The Old Pocklingtonian Old Pocklingtonian 2017-18 | Page 19

PIXIES, CRICKET & RUGBY
BOXING DAY RUGBY 2017
The 2017 OP social calendar came to a perfect close
at Percy Road on Boxing Day as another bumper
festive season crowd enjoyed an entertaining ‘Town
v Gown’ game of fluctuating fortunes that ended
all square for the second year running; Pocklington
and Old Pocklingtonians drawing 26-26 to share the
Bottomley Trophy once again.
In a similar vein to Boxing Day 2016, the OPs led
26-7 and looked nailed on winners midway through
the second half before Pocklington’s big comeback
saw them grab three last quarter tries to pull level.
And the drama continued to the last blast of the
whistle with both sides coming within inches of
winning it at the death.
Pocklington were the first to show despite OP jackal
Richard Skowronek’s (99-10) artful efforts to
dominate the breakdown. Pock’s early thrusts were
held by solid OP defence before the home pack
lost a scrum, then won it back and teenager Reece
Dixon came off the blindside wing to slice through
the middle and score at the posts, Jonty Peters
converting for the hosts.
There were good contests and old rivalries across
the field, with the opposing front rows in particular
enjoying their festive fayre. Experienced loose head
Chris Morton led some meaty Pocklington charges
with his young lieutenants Lewis Robbins and
Charlie Cartwright never far behind. Opposite, OP
prop Sam Garvey (08-15) was quickly in the thick
of things after his injury hiatus, while his front row
colleagues fashioned an immediate OP response –
prop Nick Hobbs (99-04) charging down a Pock
kick for hooker Guy Brumfield (01-08) to collect
and dive over, scrum half Tom Sowersby (05-12)
converting.
Having been gifted their way back, the OPs
Pocklington
Pixies Ties
maintained the momentum to cross again in the
second quarter. Fullback Sami Eggleston (99-07)
is an annual threat, his run taking him clear from
halfway down the far side to go under the sticks for
Sowersby to convert for 7-19 at the interval. And
Eggleston’s élan plus OP opportunism saw them pull
away early in the second period as three-quarters
Elliot Adamson (12-17) and Jack Garvin (10-
17) stretched over in quick succession, Adamson
converting his own score to make it 7-26.
But the OP exertions started to tell. They conceded
a series of penalties on the retreat, then left the
fringes of a ruck unguarded for Pock scrum half
David Davison to skirt round and sprint away to the
line, replacement fly half Sam Pattison converting.
With the fitter Pock pack now on the front foot
and the backs re-energised as Callum Mooney
joined his Colts’ colleague Pattison at halfback
and former Premiership three-quarter and
England 7s cap Rob Vickerman was on for a
cameo comeback at centre, the initiative was firmly
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with Pocklington, though they still trailed 14-26.
Could history repeat itself? Does lightning strike
twice? Since the Pock v OP festive encounter was
initiated in the early 1980s there has only been one
draw – in 2016. But Pocklington’s comeback was
irresistible as the home backs turned over the ball on
the Percy Road flank and fullback Fereti Soloa burst
clear to cross for his first try in a blue and white shirt,
Pattison converting. Then Pock pinned the OPs in
the bottom corner from a long kick downfield and
Fereti’s scoring instincts again shone through as he
scrambled to the line for a second score.
The conversion went just wide to leave it at 26-
26 with five minutes to go. Pocklington went all out
to win it, drove hard for and over the whitewash
but were held up by committed OP defence. Pock
came again, the OPs held again, then broke to the
other end where they once more charged down a
clearance kick – in a frantic dive for the touchdown
from both sides the ball just rolled dead to save the
home bacon.
The crowd held its breath for the final seconds, but
defensive composure resumed and there was no
further score leaving the honours even for another
twelve months.
Report by Phil Gilbank 67-74
Flickr album link http://www.pocklingtonschool.com/
OP-Boxing-Day-Rugby-2017?returnUrl=/News-OP
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