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Back to Winning Ways
Mark Fletcher21 Dec - 12:58
Pock End losing Streak to Close Out a Great 2025
After losing three on the bounce, Pocklington achieved a bonus point win in their last home league fixture of 2025 beating Old Crossleyans 26 - 21 in a keenly fought contest.
With talisman Matty Downes added to the already long injury list and half backs Rob Boddy and Harry Matthews away watching the Ashes in Australia, Pocklington turned to semi retired scrum halves Ben Rees and bench man Jack Bickerdike to fill the void at 9, whilst regular full back Christian Pollock moved into the fly half position, injury returnee Jed Jackson moved to full back from his usual position on the wing.
Pock got off to a good start, on five minutes Pollock found the corner with a penalty and from the ensuing lineout, mauled the ball over the line for back rower Archie Willcock to score. Pollock added the extras and Pock were on their way. On 14 minutes Pocklington replicated the first try, this time on the right hand side with Willcock scoring again and Pollock converting.
Ten minutes later having been adjudged to be held up over the line, Pock found them selves on the back foot from the restart and some quick ball from from left to right released the Crossleyans full back who ran in a good try which was converted and reduced the deficit to 7 points.
On the stroke of half time the visitors drew level when they took a quick tap penalty on the half way line, creating a two on one and scored under the posts.
Having had a wake-up call Pock got on the front foot from the second half kick-off, recycling the ball through several phases before skipper Andy Argo-Bennett carried down the centre, Rees shipped the ball right and centre James Tyson timed his pass to perfection to put winger Freddie Peel in at the corner, Pollock added the conversion to restore the lead to 21 - 14.
With ten minutes left, a resurgent Crossleyans applied the pressure and scored under the posts to level things for a second time and leave the result on a knife edge.
In the dying moments Pocklington went on the attack, eventually squeezing the ball out to the left for Pollock to score the winning and bonus point securing try in the left hand corner, the conversion was unsuccessful and Pock successfully defended their line after the visitors won the restart but conceded a penalty which was kicked out to cheers from the Pock faithful as the referee blew for full-time.
2025 has been a great year for the whole club and the first team have led the way, gaining promotion in April and going into 2026 in second place, hot on the heels of Scarborough who come to Percy Road at the end of January.
Next up is the traditional Boxing Day Town versus Gown fixture. Our next league fixture is at home to Old Brodleians on January 10th.
With talisman Matty Downes added to the already long injury list and half backs Rob Boddy and Harry Matthews away watching the Ashes in Australia, Pocklington turned to semi retired scrum halves Ben Rees and bench man Jack Bickerdike to fill the void at 9, whilst regular full back Christian Pollock moved into the fly half position, injury returnee Jed Jackson moved to full back from his usual position on the wing.
Pock got off to a good start, on five minutes Pollock found the corner with a penalty and from the ensuing lineout, mauled the ball over the line for back rower Archie Willcock to score. Pollock added the extras and Pock were on their way. On 14 minutes Pocklington replicated the first try, this time on the right hand side with Willcock scoring again and Pollock converting.
Ten minutes later having been adjudged to be held up over the line, Pock found them selves on the back foot from the restart and some quick ball from from left to right released the Crossleyans full back who ran in a good try which was converted and reduced the deficit to 7 points.
On the stroke of half time the visitors drew level when they took a quick tap penalty on the half way line, creating a two on one and scored under the posts.
Having had a wake-up call Pock got on the front foot from the second half kick-off, recycling the ball through several phases before skipper Andy Argo-Bennett carried down the centre, Rees shipped the ball right and centre James Tyson timed his pass to perfection to put winger Freddie Peel in at the corner, Pollock added the conversion to restore the lead to 21 - 14.
With ten minutes left, a resurgent Crossleyans applied the pressure and scored under the posts to level things for a second time and leave the result on a knife edge.
In the dying moments Pocklington went on the attack, eventually squeezing the ball out to the left for Pollock to score the winning and bonus point securing try in the left hand corner, the conversion was unsuccessful and Pock successfully defended their line after the visitors won the restart but conceded a penalty which was kicked out to cheers from the Pock faithful as the referee blew for full-time.
2025 has been a great year for the whole club and the first team have led the way, gaining promotion in April and going into 2026 in second place, hot on the heels of Scarborough who come to Percy Road at the end of January.
Next up is the traditional Boxing Day Town versus Gown fixture. Our next league fixture is at home to Old Brodleians on January 10th.
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