Wheatley struggle to start promotion bid

The Doncaster side, traditionally hard to beat at home, suffered a second successive reversal on home soil when they went down 17-10 against Pocklington.

Pocklington missed out on an early chance to put points on to the board when failing to convert a penalty.

Centre Craig Barker made no mistake with his first shot at goal on five minutes when he gave weakened Wheatley the lead.

Pocklington hit back to lead 7-3 three minutes later when Linefair touched down from a rolling maul near enough for full-back Bennett to convert.

Fly-half Ian Barker edged Wheatley back into the lead on 11 minutes after picking up a loose ball on the edge of the 22.

Craig Barker converted to make it 10-7.

Pocklington drew level on the stroke of half-time with a penalty by Bennett.

Defences were on top in the second half and neither team looked like adding to their score until the final quarter when a missed tackle let in Pocklington centre Stokes for the winning try.

Doncaster Phoenix crashed to a 51-17 Division Three defeat at Barnsley.

Due to the fact that they lacked several regular backs, there was some concern in the Phoenix camp going into the game that they could be found wanting out wide.

Their worst fears were realised as the impressive-looking home side ran in three early tries.

Phoenix worked hard to get back into the game and opened their account just before half-time when centre Ed Crowe jinked his way into space and ran in from about 22 metres for a try goaled by the fly-half.

Phoenix continued to make inroads into Barnsley's lead after the break with a converted try by prop Al Kaihu and an Elliott penalty.

But when Elliott, the team's playmaker and organiser, came off midway through the second half in order to catch a flight the Doncaster side lost their way and Barnsley ran amok in the final quarter.

Thornensians, who visit Castle Park this weekend, are still looking to get off the mark after going down 37-8 at home to Roundhegians.

Thorne were still in contention at the break but were swept aside in the second half.

Adwick celebrated their first game on their new temporary ground at Skellow when they beat visiting Wibsey 16-3 to open their account in Division Five B.

Wheatley Hills seconds beat Scunthorpe seconds 23-18. Terry Beedham and Simon Robson both touched down with former Adwick fly-half John White adding both conversions in addition to kicking three penalties.