Photo: Pocklington Town RUFC (left) and Old Pocklingonian (right) Rugby teams
The Boxing Day game for the Bottomley Trophy has produced numerous cliffhanger outcomes on either side over the years, but the 2016 result is likely to be a first as Pocklington came back from the dead to grab a 29-29 draw with Old Pocklingtonians.
The fixture drew another bumper festive crowd, while players came from far and wide, some from abroad, and included a sprinkling with international honours. The chill wind from the Burnby Lane end also contributed, with the OPs having first use and racing into a 29-5 interval lead before Pocklington scored 24 unanswered second half points to pull back to level.
The OPs made good use of the space out wide in the first period to set their flying wingers free. And their first try after five minutes was typical, raiding down the left from inside their own half then switching right where wing Billy Higgins scampered to the corner.
But Pocklington were soon back on terms, several forwards carrying strongly in midfield to take them to within sight of the line, then skipper and hooker Dave Birch plunging over on the short side.
The OPs then pulled clear with left wing Higgins racing over for a hattrick and Tom Sowersby contributing two tries and two conversions on the opposite flank.
A reshuffled lineup and the wind advantage saw Pocklington gain momentum in the second period and Marcus Britland wrestled over, Matt Procter converting. And the revival was boosted as straightaway a big tackle freed the ball deep in the home half and wing Tom Richardson outpaced everyone on a 70-yard gallop to the posts. Procter converted and at 19-29 it was game on.
Flanker Ben Stephenson burrowed in to close the gap to one score and another Pocklington raid saw the comeback completed as Joe Holbrough wheeled away on the far side to stroll over in the corner and make it all square as it ended in a 29-29 tie and the honours and trophy shared.
Thank you to all at Pocklington RUFC for hosting another excellent event. See you again next year!
Please click here to view the Boxing Day Rugby 2016 Flickr album.
(Report by Phil Gilbank, 67-74)