OP Rugby
OPs at Pock 7s
Oxfam Crusaders retained the John Smiths Pock 7s
title as 23 sides, including the OP team, produced
some great rugby to defy the conditions.
Numerous OPs had travelled back to the town to
watch the annual rugby 7s and get together with
friends for an Easter reunion. A number of OPs joined
team manager Josh Papa (96-03) to play for the Old
Pocklingtonians team whilst others played for one of
several other teams entered in the competition.
Boxing Day Rugby
Friday 26 December 2014, kick off 1pm, Pocklington
RUFC, Percy Road, Pocklington
Pocklington 19 Old Pocklingtonians 32
Old Pocklingtonians, the Pocklington School old
boys select, came back to beat Pocklington in an
entertaining festive fixture in front of a big Boxing
Day crowd – the old boys regaining the Bottomley
Trophy which the club has held for the past three
years.
Close to 500 people, a record following for the
annual ‘Town v Gown’ encounter, turned out to see
Pocklington surge into a 19-0 lead inside the first half
hour, before the OPs turned the tables in the second
to overhaul their hosts.
Once again the occasion was as important as the
game, with reunions of old friends and former club
mates and alumni abounding on the touchline and
the pitch.
There were familiar faces and ex-teammates on both
sides, with the new Old Pocklingtonian President and
former town front row, Andrew Wilson (89-99),
leading out a youthful old boys’ side that included a
quartet of current first teamers from the School.
Pocklington fielded as near as they could to a firstchoice line-up in the opening half, before giving their
bench of youngsters a run out later in the day.
Pocklington were the first to show as Tim Nixon
came off his wing to rampage up the middle.
But it was an OP attempt to get the ball wide after
seven minutes that opened the way for Pock’s first
score; the old boys dropped the ball on the far side
and in a flash centre Pete Massie snapped it up and
burst 35 yards up the touchline to score, Dan Elliott
converting.
Though Pocklington had a clear set piece advantage,
the OPs put together some dangerous raids and a
spell of pressure saw Alex Smith (89-92) get to the
line but lose the ball as he tried to stretch over. The
home pack muscled to the other end and from a
penalty kick to the corner they had a lineout catch
and drive stopped a foot short.
A further penalty award gave them another go and
this time they got the touchdown, credited to flanker
Karl Durkin who was making a welcome comeback
after almost two months out with an ankle problem.
Pocklington soon increased their lead with a third try,
Massie again showing elusiveness and acceleration as
he dummied through the midfield and raced clear to
the left corner, Elliott again converting.
Pocklington looked on course for a convincing
win. But the old boys hauled themselves back into
contention with the last play of the first half as
Loughborough back row Tarek Mursal (03-10) thrust
for the line, centre Joe Holbrough (97-04) made
another and Mursal got back up for a second attempt
and burrowed over for the try.
The OPs opened the competition when they faced
Bridlington on the main pitch at 1pm. They got the
competition off to a fantastic start in what were
less than ideal weather conditions and won their
opening match 24-19. Unfortunately in the second
match the OPs faced Sedgefield Squirrels who won
quite comprehensively 26-0. Sedgefield eventually
got knocked out in the quarter finals by the eventual
competition winners Oxfam Crusaders.
Another team featuring OP players was Brookfield.
They made it through to the quarter finals before
getting knocked out by Northern Exiles, another side
featuring a few familiar OP faces.
Many thanks to the OPs who came back to play this
year and fingers crossed next year the team can get
that bit further.
Thanks also to the many OP supporters who came
along to watch and support this important annual
event for Pocklington Rugby Club.
A major interval swap and reshuffle saw the Old
Pocklingtonians’ scrummage strengthened for the
second half. And once they grabbed the momentum
they increasingly took control.
Pocklington were reeled in as current School 1st XV
forwards Lewis Wilson and Sam Garvey stretched
over in opposite corners, Wilson crossing on the
left after a show and go 20 yards out, and Garvey
popping up outside his backs to plunge over at the
right flag.
The OPs remained on the front foot and Yorkshire
unde