Penrith would be bitterly disappointed with their second away defeat of the season but there could be few complaints, they were deservedly on equal terms at half time but the home side completely dominated the second half and the Cumbrians had to be satisfied with a losing bonus point.
Not for the first time this season Penrith came up against a side physically bigger than they were, not that Penrith are a small side but Pocklington were also aggressive and played the game on the edge. There was plenty of pushing and shoving off the ball and the occasional bout of fisticuffs, Penrith gave as good as they got but it made for a bruising encounter.
Both sides went close to scoring in the first quarter but it was the home side that got the first points on the board, it came from a high diagonal punt in the direction of winger Ben Littleton. He is usually very reliable under the high ball using his cricketing skills but the ball bounced and as a rugby ball can do, bamboozled everyone and landed in the hands of the kick chasers and resulted in an easy try and conversion.
Penrith then got good field position following a break by Liam Tunstall, be broke into the 22 and tried to find Jon Fell with an inside pass, it went to ground and the defence scrambled it into touch. Penrith won the lineout on the 22 and drove for the line, the home side illegally tried to stop the drive and the referee indicated he had given a penalty.
The driven maul was now a ruck on the line and the free ball was spun left. Matt Allinson looked as if he was going to be caught with man and ball but he threw the ball backwards through his legs and the unusual pass found Fell perfectly, in the line off the blindside wing and he drew the last man and put Littleton in at the corner. Mike Fearon's touchline conversion leveled the scores.
Penrith then had a period of superiority and Pocklington lost a man to a yellow card. Ryan Johnson broke from a scrum just outside the 22 and made inroads into home territory, a couple more forward drives and they were threatening the home line. The next ball came to Callum Rowlandson and the home defence set themselves up for a charge from the big man but he fed Fearon who picked his way through a flatfooted defence for a good try. His conversion added to his side's advantage.
The home side did not take long to level the scores once more just before the break with a well executed catch and drive from an attacking lineout. The half time score of 14-14 was just about a fair reflection of what had gone before but the second half was a completely different matter with the home side well in the ascendancy.
Pocklington scored after only three minutes and for a short while the referee had those on the pitch as well as those on the touchline mystified. The home side had grounded the ball over the line with what might have been deemed a double movement and it appeared a penalty had been given. There was then a bit of an altercation between the two teams which had to be sorted out and it then after that had been done it became clear a try had been given.
Penrith then spent long periods defending and were rarely in the opposition half but on one occasion when they did did get a penalty awarded which Fearon struck well to narrow the gap. The home side then got a penalty which they kicked to restore their seven point advantage and had a number of chances to extend their lead. They missed another penalty attempt and had a drop goal effort go wide.
Despite their efforts they could not force a fourth try for a bonus point or another score to deprive Penrith of their losing bonus point. It is to Penrith's credit they played so well without the ball, they were under severe pressure at times and at one stage defended four consecutive 5m scrums without conceding.
Penrith did finish the game with a bit of a rally and spent the final minutes in the home 22. They may have stolen a draw but couldn't keep possession for long enough to exert any real pressure and left the home team were delighted with their win. League leaders West Hartlepool with seven wins out of seven are next up at Winters Park and if Penrith are to maintain an interest at the top of the table they have to win.