Pocklington visited The Jim Saynor Ground with only 2 league defeats both against leaders North Ribblesdale. The Pythons had the better of early exchanges. A kick ahead from the away team gave their pacey winger a race against the home defence which the winger narrowly won, 0-7 after 10 minutes. The Pythons responded well with Hugh Tatlow dominating the line outs, secure ball was spun wide by Natsuki Barclay, starting at 9, to Jack Thompson-Hall who released Saul Adshead. Rounding one defender, Adshead uses a deft chip to beat the last defender with Ben Pryor adding the extras, 7-7 after 15 minutes. Tatlow leads his pack back to Pock’s line to pile the pressure back on. In desperation Pock give away a penalty and a Pryor pen gives The Pythons the lead, 10-7.
Harry Brayshaw takes a quick throw in to Barclay who makes good ground, back to Brayshaw who rounds the winger, kicks ahead and is downed by a late tackle. Yellow card for Pock and Max Sharp hits the 5m line with the penalty. Secure ball from Tatlow, Sam Rowntree is held up short, Jodan Payne stopped at the base of the post. Quick ball from Barclay to Pryor with a long pass to Adshead who rounds his winger to carry over a would be tackler to score his second. Pryor adds the extras, 17-7. Pocklington score a try and a penalty, 17-15 half time.
The Pythons continue to pressurise the away side throughout the 2nd half. A full length race sees Adshead pulled down 5m short of his hat trick but some defensive errors allow Pock to run in 24 unanswered points and finish the game 17-39.
After the game, Coach John Liley said, “We put in a sterling performance against 2nd placed Pocklington today, and, as was the case in the reverse fixture, were still in with a chance of causing an upset with 15 minutes of the game remaining. Whilst Pocklington took the initial lead, Pythons then stepped up a couple of gears to take the lead and maintain this position at half time with a 17-15 lead. Pythons first half performance was impressive and demonstrated the ability that the squad possesses.
In the second half Pythons absorbed everything that the visitors threw at them, and it was only in the final 15 minutes that the game drifted away from them, as Pocklington ran in 24 unanswered points. The Pythons coaching staff are immensely proud of the performance that the lads put in. If this level of Python performance can be repeated for the remainder of the season, a top 6 league finishing position beckons! “
This Saturday The Pythons entertain Beverley in their re arranged fixture.
