Pocklington Merovingians22

With the first and second team matches both off, the Merovingians took centre stage when they were the only team to get a game.

The Meros travelled to Driffield where a firm pitch was just about playable under a covering of snow, and their dominant pack performance laid the foundation for a good win which stretches their unbeaten run to an impressive ten weeks.

The Meros camped in Driffield territory for much of the first half and took the lead after 12 minutes when centre Martin Scott took the ball 20 yards out. His check and cut inside wrongfooted the cover, and his diagonal run took him to the posts unopposed, Andy Walker knocking over the conversion.

While Meros' skipper Jerry Mooney may need to resort to occasional bribery, bullying and blackmail to get out a back division, he has no shortage of forwards and he has turned them into a formidable pack. Any lack of pace is amply compensated by an abundance of bulk and grunt, and from the off on Saturday the Meros forwards were in control up front supplementing their weight advantage with the quick scrum strike of hooker Matt Moore and lineout athleticism of James Armstrong to win a plethora of set piece possession.

But the Meros had to wait until the closing minutes of the first half to extend their lead, and then only after a slice of luck. The referee missed a Meros' knock on in midfield which enabled them to gain a five-yard scrum position. Their forwards needed no second invitation and the home eight was unceremoniously shunted back over the Driffield own line for scrum half Rob Jackson to dive in for the pushover score.

Play was more end to end in the second period with Driffield's dangerous threequarters making some dangerous raids down the right wing before the Meros regained the initiative up front. Prop Stew Bewick led some meaty charges up the middle to soften up the defence, and converted threequarter Owen Southgate took over to batter up in the centre.

The Meros were twice held up over the line, then from another close range scrum the back rows were involved in a wrestling match on the blind side and Jackson saw the opportunity to slip through for his second try.

It was a good job that the Meros controlled possession because Driffield showed what they could do with quick ball as they hit back with a good back try and then straightaway resumed the offensive.

But the Meros made the game safe with their fourth touchdown in the closing minutes. From deep inside his own half Jackson made a great break down the far flank and replacement flanker Phil Drew, as befits a university student home for the weekend, ran an intelligent support line to gallop the final 40 yards to score and complete proceedings.