POCKLINGTON RUFC got 2019 off to a good start with a bonus-point 29-17 home win over Consett, lifting them to ninth in North One East.

The Percy Road outfit overcame some Christmas-induced rustiness and a much-changed back line - but will still be looking for improvement in the weeks to come with games against Morley Percy Park and Malton & Norton.

Pock started strongly as a wild Consett pass put their full-back in trouble. Home flanker Ed Davison was able to snaffle the loose ball and wing Jed Jackson received the pop pass in midfield to scamper 35 yards under the posts, with Christian Pollock adding the conversion.

The hosts then missed golden opportunities to pull clear and, after attacking errors at one end, a defensive lapse at the other allowed Consett to weave through to the left corner on the quarter-hour.

Pocklington sparked into life after the restart and again put daylight between them and their visitors when Pollock crossed after centre James Thompson and flanker Will Sayer had linked up well.

But again, Pock failed to seize the initiative and conceded a series of penalties which allowed Consett to pound at the home line before going over from a lineout catch and drive.

The hosts added a penalty before the interval to extend their lead to 17-10.

When they came out for the second half, Pocklington upped the tempo and notched a well-taken try through Josh Britton, who stretched over after taking the ball from Thompson, who had been stopped just short.

At 22-10, Pock would have hoped to put the game to bed but, instead, seemed to lose their way for the next 15 minutes and repeated attempts to run the ball out of defence only served to give away possession and invite pressure.

But, with 12 minutes to go, good approach play finally got them up the right end of the pitch and, with a scrum in the shadow of the Consett posts, they needed no second invitation, shunting the visiting eight back to give Ben Rees a simple pushover score for the bonus point.

Consett got another score following a series of late penalties.

Pocklington are on the road next weekend, visiting eighth-placed Morley, whose 39-19 win at York was their second on the bounce following a run of four consecutive defeats.