Pocklington 27 - 16 Rochdale RUFC

For their final away fixture of the season in their league, North 1 East, Rochdale travelled to Pocklington and having fallen behind rallied but their comeback fell short and Pocklington were worthy winners of an entertaining game.

Having lost the toss Rochdale found themselves playing into the strong wind and set to their task in positive, lively fashion. The forwards seemed in determined mood and for almost ten minutes managed to deny Pocklington any usable possession.

Forceful runs from Rob Birtwell and Ollie Saparamandu broke the initial Pocklington defence and the back row of Ross Hartley, Chris McArdle and Tom Hindle secured good ball for captain, Rob Neave to feed his three-quarters.

During this period, stand-off, James Duffy, was zipping quick, telling passes to his backs who used the ball to good effect to keep the pressure on the home side. Their defence was proving up to the demands until, finally, they strayed offside and presented Ollie Coldman with a chance, which he duly took.

From the restart Tom Callaghan drove back at Pocklington before Neave released his backs, allowing Josh Schofield a glimmer off an outside break but excellent, speedy cover saw him tackled into touch on the home 22.

This seemed to be a catalyst for Pocklington and they began to play themselves into the game especially through their number nine using the elements and putting the ball high into the air.

When Rochdale opted to kick to clear their lines against the wind the home full-back, a young, age-group county player, took it at speed and danced his way through the stretched Rochdale defence and when he was finally tackled their alert scrum half was on hand to finish just outside the posts. The fullback added the extras and Pocklington's confidence was building.

Shortly after the restart Rochdale lost wing-forward Chris McArdle with a shoulder injury and Jake Castree took to the field. Taking advantage of the change in personnel, the Pocklington number nine hoisted another high ball and this time it was not fielded well and the Pocklington chase secured the ball which was quickly transferred out to their wing who sped in, wide on the right. The fullback calmly slotted the goal.

Rochdale were stung into action and after a drive through the middle from Birtwell was carried on by Pat Philbin, captain Neave jinked through half a gap and fed fullback Jimmy Flitcroft at speed. He was into the home 22 with only the fullback to beat.

The county player showed his mettle and took his opposite number down in a copy-book tackle, the ball spilling forward for a Pocklington scrum. Pocklington's half back hoisted another high kick but it was well fielded by Rochdale winger Callum Duffin who showed his fast feet to elude the initial chase and set up good possession for his backs to set up a promising attack only to have the ball knocked down by the Pocklington centre. Quick ball by Neave from the penalty sent the ball down the line and when Schofield straightened his run it gave his winger Aaron Howarth just enough room to skirt the cover and win the foot race from 30 m out.

Coldman’s kick into the wind was pushed wide.

Pocklington finished the half in strong fashion and managed two unconverted tries before the whistle. The first was instigated by another hypnotic run from their number 15 before handing on to his right wing to go over in the corner.

The second came from sustained pressure from the home forwards and a quick dart by their number nine through a stretched defence.

Half time: Pocklington 24 - 8 Rochdale RUFC

It was Rochdale’s turn to use the wind and pin the home side in their own 22, but after a period of pressure the Pocklington wing running out of his 22 side-stepped inside stand-off Duffy who flung out an arm and was yellow carded for a high tackle, having been warned in the first half.

Rochdale managed to keep the play in the home 22 and after two drives from Callaghan and Saparamandu the Pocklington wing-forward was carded for lying-on and Coldman slotted the penalty.

Neave, taking full advantage of the absence of the opposition flanker, made an excellent break from a ruck on the home 10 metre line and handed on to Hindle at speed who burst into the opponents 22 and lofted a long pass out to Duffin who raced over to touch down wide out. This time Coldman just failed with the goal attempt.

Dale Slamon replaced Saparamadu, and Duffy and the Poklington flanker returned in quick succession. But, Birtwell, leaping high in the line seemed to over-balance and fall into his opponent rather than any intent, but, like Duffy, he had been warned in the first half and had to suffer the yellow card.

Pocklington lifted their game once more and began to pressure the Rochdale line. The defence held firm under great pressure; Tom Helliwell won a vital line-out ball on his five metre line, Philbin tackled and stripped the stand-off of the ball just 10 metres out, young Jake Castree swooped on a loose ball and drove through the opposition ranks and Neave, Hartley and Hindle tackled anything that moved. Eventually, like their opponents in the first half, Rochdale gave away a penalty and Pocklington elected for the goal and put it safely over.

Birtwell returned and the final 20 minutes was a pulsating affair. The Pocklington fullback collected a wayward kick and set off on another mazy run taking play into the Rochdale half. A ruck ensued and the bulky Pocklington centre bulldozed his way into the 22 but was bundled into touch about 15 metres from the Rochdale line. Birtwell secured the ball at the line-out and the Rochdale half backs got quick ball to Coldman who saw the big hole behind the home three-quarters and kicked deep. A good chase by Coldman, Schofield and Howarth on the right flank pushed the play into the home 22.

The Rochdale pressure led to a turn-over in the centre of the field where Dale Slamon led the charge and support from Callaghan and Castree found Donoghue in unfamiliar territory on the wing and he was duly caught by the cover defence, picking up a knock for his troubles. It was to be Rochdale’s last flurry and their promising come-back fell short. Pocklington were worthy winners of an entertaining game for the spectators.