Pocklington's rugby players are swinging into action as the start of their North 1 East league campaign looms next month.
Wayne Grainger's Pocklington Pilgrims outfit were first up when they played in the Hornsea 10s tournament last Saturday, and the 1st XV squad travels to Goole tomorrow (Thursday 19 August) for their initial pre-season friendly.
At Hornsea the Pligrims started up against an athletic East Yorkshire Barbarians invitation side, and had to come from behind in the second half, then hang on in the closing seconds to edge a 15-14 win. It was easier going as they ran riot against a game Barton 10, running in eight tries for a 50-0 success. But having played two games without a break they found it hard going against a young and fit Hornsea side and went down to a 7-33 defeat.
The two first up wins ensured the Pilgrims promptly faced Hornsea again in the final. The Pocklington side was all over Hornsea for the first ten minutes, but they butchered two golden scoring opportunities and both times Hornsea broke away to the other end to touch down. The Pilgrims battled gamely on but ran out of steam as their earlier exertions took their toll, with Hornsea pulling away to be 24-0 winners to lift the title.
On Thursday evening (19 August), Tony Penn takes his first team squad to Goole for their first taste of match action under floodlights, kick off 7.30 pm. That his followed by a testing home friendly against higher league Billingham on Saturday 28 August, kick off 2.00 pm. The league campaign gets underway a week later at Halifax side, Heath, ko 2.15 pm.
Pictured: Pilgrim wing Charlie Watson sprints clear against Barton on Saturday
