York digs deep to turn first half deficit into victory!

Illness, injuries and International callings meant that York had to ring the changes and today's squad did time to settle although it was not evident by the way they started. York made a clean call and catch of Pocklington kickoff and set up a drive into the heart of the oncoming Pocklington forwards. As the ball was laid back, York pit in a long kick to touch taking play well into the Pocklington half. Pocklington took the ball at the front of the line but were forced into touch. York won the ensuing line and set up a driving maul before moving the ball out wide. An adjudged forward pass halted play and gave Pocklington a scrum. Pocklington won their scrum and a back movement took play to the York 22-meter line. From that position, Pocklington switched play and found York lacking in numbers. A desperate York tackle halted the flow but failed to put the man on the ground. As Pocklington managed to get the ball away, although slow, they did get the ball along the line and with an extra man on the outside and York defense too stretched they squeezed in at the corner. (5-0). Now buoyed with confidence, Pocklington took a clean catch of the York restart and immediately attacked the York line only to be stopped short by determined defense. A solid York defensive scrum wins the ball and York put in a long clearance kick that fails to find touch. The York defense is up quickly and Pocklington go for a kick and chase but as the ball rolls over the line, York touch down for a 22 meter drop-out. From there, York take play back to halfway, win a scrum and run the ball but are forced into touch. Pocklington attack again and as the ball goes loose York resort to a bit of football as they fly kick the ball back up field but just a break looks on York knock-on whilst trying to get the ball to hand. York wins the Pocklington scrum and drives up field only to be forced into touch. York wins the Pocklington line and set up a driving maul towards the Pocklington line. Ben Davies breaks with the ball and forces his way over the line to level the score. (5-5). From the Pocklington restart, York had a period of dominant play without actually threatening the Pocklington line. From collecting the restart York kicked to touch and then won the Pocklington lineout. York drove but was held. From a subsequent lineout York drove round the front of the scrum but was forced into touch. York won the Pocklington lineout and ran the ball wide but was held. Pocklington win their own scrum and kick up field. York is caught in possession as Pocklington commits numbers to the ruck and wins the ball. It was becoming a feature of the game whereby Pocklington were committing all their forwards to rucks whilst York had too many players standing off and as a consequence conceded too much possession. The ball comes loose from a York scrum and Pocklington get a foot to the ball for a hack ahead. In trying to field the rolling ball York knock-on and concede a scrum to Pocklington on York's 22-meter line. Pocklington win the game and move the ball wide, with their fullback joining the line they create an overlap for their winger to score in the corner. (10-5). York race up field for a quick restart but Pocklington are alert and York are unprepared. Pocklington counter attack immediately and only a last ditch tackle, forcing Pocklington into touch on the 22-meter line saves a further try. With Pocklington having suffered an injury in the attack the referee calls a premature halt and blows for halftime.
HALF TIME : POCKLINGTON 10 YORK 5.

York restarts the second half with the aid a breeze that had favoured Pocklington in the first half. Pocklington catch cleanly but York catch them in possession and set up a driving maul. But the ball is held. From the York scrum play is disrupted by Pocklington who is quickly through. Chris Cambridge gets hands to ball and back tracks for a while to avoid the chasing Pocklington pack. He picks up pace as he goes wide to avoid the cover defense and he straightens to run along the touchline he outpaces both Pocklington's winger and covering fullback to sprint round and behind the posts. Oliver Leedham added the conversion (10-12). The crowd was on tender hooks because for most of the second half this was where the score hung. Both sides were denied further scoring chances and the game could have swung either way. Both sides resorted to a kicking game in order to try and set up attacking positions. The pattern of the game continued with York being dominant in the lineout and set scrums but conceding possession in rucks and mauls. Neither set of backs could make any penetration. Both fullbacks defended well and were both secure in gathering kicks and clearing to touch. As a consequence the game ebbed and flowed between the two 22 meter lines. York supporter's minds were finally put at ease. York won a scrum on halfway but Pocklington was round quickly to drive the York scrum half backwards. York backtracks quickly and as the ball reached George Gao he set himself to drive into the heart of Pocklington's pack. As it materialised he broke clean through and headed straight for the posts. As his pace quickened the Pocklington cover defense were unable to get hands on him as he raced in for the touchdown. Oliver Leedham duly added the conversion. (10-19). At that the final whistle was blasted.
FULL TIME : POCKLINGTON 10 YORK 19.

York's sterling defensive work had been a feature of the second half in particular. It was that in particular that had kept the Pocklington score down and created a platform for the forward's set piece play to bring some reward. That reward did come in the form of two well taken individual runs both resulting in excellent tries. Although lacking the edge in set pieces, Pocklington have a well-drilled pack and put pressure on York in rucks and mauls. At best York rucked and mauled well but all too often they were short in numbers with forwards hanging off and not committing themselves. A lesson to be learnt when up against a good pack. York backs ran hard and tackled well but were given very little time or space by their encroaching counterparts.

Try Scorers:

Ben Davies
Chris Cambridge
George Gao

Conversions:

Oliver Leedham (2)

Players Man of the Match:

Alex Cooper.