As well as the social side of things, the event saw a full Old Pocklingtonians squad joining in the action on the field with their first match in the preliminary round against long-standing rivals, Old Peterites.

Hopes were high for the team with the welcome return of OP regulars Joe Laudage who had travelled from Germany, Sam Noble, Oli Scutt, Ben Maycock, Henry Green, Jack Woodhead, Henry Rodmell, and Jonty Goddard who was fresh off the plane from Australia. Bolstered by the talents of Will Nicholson, Tom Hirst and Northern Exiles stalwarts James Thompson and Sami Eggleston who were on a break from their regular Pock 7s commitments, the Old Pocklingtonians were strong contenders. This played out in the match as OPs dominated Old Peterites in the first half. Darting runs from Sami Eggleston initiated some nice breaks for the OPs culminating in a flurry of tries. Old Peterites gained momentum as the match progressed, but despite racking up a couple of tries, they couldn’t close the gap and the OPs went through to the first round of the main competition 22-12.

After a quick 20 minutes to recover and regroup, the OPs moved to the front pitch to play their next match against last year’s runners up, Martin’s Minions. The Barnard Castle School old boys dominated from the off, running through the OP defence to score a plethora of blistering tries. With the score line mounting up for the opposition, the OPs struggled to find a way through only scoring once in the 14 minutes of game time. The final score was 38-5 to Martin’s Minions who went on to defeat the 2023 winners, Cleveland Cougars, in the final to lift the WS Fowler Challenge Trophy offering some consolation to the OPs.

The MB Herring Plate for first round losers brought a home trophy success with Pocklington beating Jersey Royals 17-7.

Well done and thank you to all OPs who played this year. We hope to see some of you in the team next year on Good Friday 18 April 2025, and if any other OPs would be keen to play, please get in touch with Rachel in the OP office.

OP Squad: Joe Laudage (04-15), James Thompson (03-14), Will Nicholson (09-15), Sam Noble (10-19), Oli Scutt (9-14), Ben Maycock (14-21), Henry Green (10-22), Tom Hirst (14-22), Jack Woodhead (13-20), Henry Rodmell (16-23), Jonty Goddard (11-19), Sami Eggleston (99-07)

Results

Preliminary Round

Selby 5 Hull Ionians 34; Old Pocklingtonians 22 Old Peterites 12; Malton & Norton 36 Goole Vikings 7; Pilgrims 24 Jersey Royals 22

First Round

Pocklington 10 Goole 22; Northumbria Thunderhawks 10 Pocklington Porkers 19; Old Pocklingtonians 5 Martin's Minions, Barnard Castle, 38; Malton & Norton 7 Goole Vikings 7; Cleveland Cougars 43 Driffield 5; Lomaiviti UK 29 Pilgrims 0; Woldgate OB 0 York Saints 38

Quarter Finals

Goole 24 Pocklington Porkers 19; Warrendale Wagyu Warriors 0 Martin's Minions, Barnard Castle, 38; Malton & Norton 7 Cleveland Cougars 35; York Saints 15 Lomaiviti UK 5

Semi Finals

Goole 7 Martin's Minions, Barnard Castle, 26; Cleveland Cougars 27 York Saints 22 (aet)

Final

Martin's Minions, Barnard Castle, 29 Cleveland Cougars 7

Plate Competition

Quarter Finals

Selby 10 Pocklington 27; Old Peterites 17 Northumbria Thunderhawks 24; Goole Vikings 5 Jersey Royals 38; Driffield 14 Woldgate OB 10

Semi Finals

Pocklington 36 Northumbria Thunderhawks 0; Jersey Royals 22 Driffield 0

Final

Pocklington 17 Jersey Royals 7

Women’s Competition

Group A winners: Blaydon, Runners Up: Bishop Burton College

Group B winners: Metrodogs, Runners Up: Selby

Third place play-off: Selby 21 Bishop Burton College 10

Final: Metrodogs 22 Blaydon 5