York, sitting at the top of the league, awaited Pocklington with some trepidation, given that the visitors were on a 6 match winning streak and are York’s closest derby rivals. The weather was also uncertain, windy and cold but thankfully dry.

York kicked off with the wind behind them and almost immediately Pock broke down the right side and York’s defence was tested. Pock’s strong pack was recycling the ball rapidly but although they tried to spread the point of attack on occasions, they could not make the break through. However York were penalised right in front of the posts, initially for a high tackle and then for lying on the ball, and No 10 Pollock, slotted an easy penalty. (0-3) It could be argued in some quarters that the double penalty perhaps merited a harsher punishment but that was for discussion over a drink!!10 minutes passed before York began to get a foothold in the match. Pock were penalised twice in short succession and Cusack took play to Pock’s 10 metre line. A further infringement allowed Cusack to bring the scores level, but very much against the run of play. (3-3).

The restart was well taken by Fox which allowed Cusack to kick tactically towards the Pock 22 metre line. The visitors failed to clear and conceded a scrum after being held up in the tackle. Although Pock scrummaged strongly they conceded a penalty in the following play and Cusack kicked York into the lead. (6-3). Pock resumed their forward driving play but their backs could not make the important breakthrough. In fact the first threequarter break of the afternoon came from the York fullback Hessay who made good ground and when the ball was recycled Cusack drilled his kick into Pock’s 22. Although York took the visitor’s lineout, they knocked on and conceded the scrum. Advantage lost! In the play following, Pock were penalised for entering from the wrong side. Again York threw away the advantage by this time losing the line out. However, the balance of play was changing and some enterprising play by York backs saw Hodges make good ground before Pock were again penalised for offside, with Cusack converting. (9-3). The game was coming alive for York, who took the restart well, saw Hessay break up the left before the ball was switched to Stockton who made a major thrust up the middle. At this point, Pock lost Smith for 10 minutes, probably for repeated infringements, and Cusack took advantage and drove play back to the Pock 22. From the lineout, after some slick passing, York’s Fordy outpaced the Pock defence to score a fine try which Cusack converted. (16-3).

An incorrectly taken restart perhaps signalled some anxiety within the Pock ranks, but although the visitors possibly held firm in the set pieces, York again threatened out wide with Dent to the fore, but the half closed with no additional scoring.The first 5 minutes of the second half were at best, bizarre. York knocked on at the restart and then were penalised. Pock’s kick set up a 5 metre line out from which a strong rolling maul saw Rees in for a well worked try, which Pollock converted well. (16-10). York recovered their own restart kick, fed the ball to Hessay, who found Stockton in support and in full flight, who in turn fed back to Hessay who scored a really first class try. The conversion attempt failed. (21-10). All in 5 minutes! Pocklington continued to drive but the York defence seemed more and more secure with Fordy and Frank (substitute for Forbes) buttoning up the centre and the young backrow of Bell and Simpson, snuffing out the close quarter attempts. By contrast York’s back up play was superb, as shown when Stockton was again to the fore, for Frank to go in at the corner, scoring his first try for the Club. Again the conversion, into the wind, failed. (26-10). Shortly afterwards, the killer punch, when Hessay, taking the ball about his own 22, made a 60 metre break, fed Hodges who floated past 4 defenders and scored under the posts for a thrilling try which Cusack converted. (33-10). This try secured the bonus point.

The game had really opened up and York stand off Cusack was orchestrating some very exciting plays which left the Pock defence too thin and saw Fordy, following a delightful chip ahead, score under the posts for a further converted try. (40-10). It was all one way with York now moving Pock around with ease and with Hessay’s speed a constant threat. There was a brief respite when Pock were awarded a penalty for a York offside, and from the line out and subsequent play in York’s 22, the ball ran loose only to be snaffled by winger Hodges. Then back down the field went the ball and Fordy’s pace enabled him to send No 8 Cade Robinson in at the corner for an unconverted try. (45-10). York’s Goulding collected the restart, made good ground, as he has done all season, fed into skipper White who in turn found Fordy, who passed to the ever present Atkin to score for York’s final try, converted by Cussack. (52-10).Pocklington, however, had never given up as they continued to seek an opening. A kick ahead and subsequent bouncing ball, caught York’s full back Hessay in two minds and enabled Pollock to follow up and score a try under the posts which he himself converted. (52-17).

This win sees York reinforce their place at the top of the league and sees the continuation of a fine run of results of which they and their coaching staff should feel justifiably proud .