POCKLINGTON RUFC have claimed a big scalp in North One East after coming from behind to beat table-toppers Scarborough 25-7 on their own turf.

The seasiders led 7-5 at the break but when Pocklington took control after the restart, the victory could - and possibly should - have been more comprehensive. They also enjoyed long spells of pressure in the first hour without scoring and missed all six of their kicks at goal.

Pock, now up to eighth in the table, have a break this weekend before returning to action the following Saturday at home to Cleckheaton.

It was a rollercoaster week for the Pocklington coaches, who were initially boosted by returning players, only to suffer a spate of withdrawals late on, with James Thornton bolstering a patched-up pack without a recognised tighthead prop.

But Pock went straight onto the attack as Joe Holbrough carved through in midfield and they hammered at the home line for much of the next 20 minutes.

It was scrappy and frenetic as Pocklington were twice stopped a yard out by a determined defence before prop Chris Morton went off with a rib injury following an illegal tackle on the quarter-hour. Youngster Lewis Bell came on for Morton, making his first-team debut, and the tackler was sent to the bin.

Pock were also reduced to 14 when James Thompson was yellow carded for retaliation and, after 25 minutes of the visitors' pressure, Scarborough got the opening score.

They had been brought back for offside from a diagonal kick to the left flank, but when a relieving boot up the right bounced infield, the Scarborough chasers poured upfield for centre Jimmy Perrett to go under the posts, with Tom Ratcliffe converting.

Josh Britton was sin-binned following a deliberate knock-on during a Scarborough counter-attack before returning fly-half Thompson forced his way over the line from an attack down the left to cut the deficit to 7-5.

Thompson's bittersweet afternoon ended three minutes into the second half when he cracked a cheekbone in a collision with a colleague but Pocklington's reshuffled backs remained dangerous and, when the home lock came back on from the bin, he again infringed offside and received a second yellow.

And Pocklington rubbed it in straight away as scrum-half Ben Rees stripped the ball from a home front-row allowing centre Britton to break and send sub David Davison galloping down the wing and round behind the posts. Sam Pattison's conversion attempt was charged down.

Full-back Pollock put the visitors further ahead as he steamed up the left, outpacing the cover and touching down, before Jed Jackson notched the bonus-point try. Rees broke left and a couple of offloads released wing Jackson, who still had plenty to do to make the line but went over with good strength and determination.

Pocklington's attacks were now coming in waves, while Scarborough were reduced to 13 after their captain was sent off for dissent.

Again, Pock compounded the hosts' frustrations by notching another try.

Holbrough handled twice before giving the ball to Morton - who had returned to the pitch, despite the rib injury - and the big prop ended his and Pocklington's afternoon on a high, steamrollering over the last defender for the final score.

Once again the conversion was missed but, on the day, Pock did not need kicks as their attacking game was enough to ensure five crucial league points.