The Old Pocklingtonian Old Pocklingtonian 2017-18 | Page 20

OP SPORT OP s AT POCK 7 s The 2018 John Smiths Pock 7s produced another big sporting occasion as once again close to 3,000 people including many OPs packed into Percy Road for six hours of high-speed rugby capped by an outstanding final. While snow had covered large parts of the north east, Pocklington escaped the worst of the weather and was blessed with weak sunshine as Pock 7s regulars came from near and far for their annual Easter rugby reunion. The event was also the first of the RFUs 2018 Secure Trading 24/Sevens series that starts at Pocklington on Good Friday and ends with a national finals day at Bath RFC in July. The last game of the Diamond Jubilee Pock 7s brought together the day’s two best sides – Manchester Metropolitan University, last year’s runners up, and Oxfam Crusaders. The end-to-end action saw the match still deadlocked at 19-19 at the final whistle, forcing them to go to sudden death extra-time. Twice Manchester looked to have won it, but an unbelievable last-ditch tackle saved the day first time, then a dropped ball blew the next chance. Oxfam Crusaders, the team formed from Norfolk schoolmates in 2012 to raise money for charity, did not need a second invitation as they ran the ball from their own line to go full length for the golden try and lift the Pocklington title for the fourth time in its 60-year history. (03-14) team, Northern Exiles, whilst Artland Dragon OPs went out to a strong Goole side. See the Pocklington RUFC website for full results. first time in the event’s history! Thank you to all those who had signed up to play or umpire. They were: We hope all these players and others will make it back for next year’s event which will be on Sunday 24 March 2019 at 10.00am. We are also hoping to include a netball match, so if any OPs would like to be involved, please get in touch with the OP office. The Plate competition also produced a cliffhanger finale, with Pocklington Porkers, a group of Ampleforth College old boys sponsored by Pocklington’s Feathers Hotel, edging out Beverley 22-17. On the OP front, two teams were entered this year: the traditional Old Pocklingtonian team headed up by the Papa brothers, Josh (96-03) and Lewis (96-03), and a team of predominantly 2015 leavers headed up by Joe Laudage (04-15) playing under the team name of Artland Dragon OPs. Both teams had a good run in the tournament reaching the quarter-final stage of the main competition. Old Pocklingtonians went out to OP James Thomson’s OP MEN’S AND LADIES’ HOCKEY CANCELLED Sadly, overnight snowfall and freezing weather conditions meant the pitches were unplayable and the OP hockey fixtures had to be cancelled for the 20 Charlotte Atkinson (née Flint, 97-08), Georgina Booth (née Chapman, 96-06), Alice Cullen (08- 15), Angela Curtis (08-17), Thea Davies (10-17), Lydia Edwards (99-10), Megan Glew (05-16), Laura Horne (01-08), Natasha Leach (09-16), Georgina Lloyd (03-14), Elizabeth Rhodes (15-17), Edwin Au (10-14), Samuel Berridge (05-12), William Blackburn (06-17), Ricky Blair (10-17), Ben Byas (04-15), Jesse Chu (08-15), John Cooper (06-12), Adam Harrison (10-17), David Hutchinson (05-16), Tom Needler (13-17), Sam Ryan (09-17), Robert Smith (06- 17), Daniel Tunnicliffe (09-16), Edward Wightman (05-16), Stuart Rawlings (75-80), Mark Ronan (Headmaster), David Byas (Director of Sport), Lucy Hornby (02-04, i/c Girls’ Hockey). OP Netball is coming! INTERESTED IN PLAYING NETBALL IN AN OP TEAM AGAINST THE SCHOOL? Sign up now with Rachel Dare or Lucy Hornby [email protected] [email protected]