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Match Report - Pontefract v Moortown
Phil Atkinson20 Oct - 20:59
Hat Trick Hero Papworth has Plenty of Heart
Papworth is an exciting young player
- James Grant - Director of Rugby
Matches against Moortown are always competitive affairs and given their league position just below Pontefract both teams must have sensed this was a “must win” game for them. The Moor Lane pitch looked stunning on a perfect autumnal afternoon for rugby and so the stage was set for a memorable encounter.
One thing that has become apparent in this league is that there no room for complacency. There are no weak teams as high flying Wetherby found out when they came unstuck at home against the second bottom club Crossleyans. Pontefract were certainly not complacent and made a flying start to the game when centre Andy Coleman pounced on a loose ball and shook off would be tacklers to race 60 yards only to be pulled down agonisingly short. Help was at hand though as Papworth (more of him later) supported quickly allowing Coleman to regain his feet and dart over for the opening try which was converted by Ethan Grant.
Grant was soon back in action when he scampered through from 40 yards directly from a line out for a self-converted try to make the score 14:0. At the point the home team looked to be in charge, however Moortown have a cutting edge of their own, and the soon made it 14:5 when their prop showed a clean pair of heels to score.
The second half signalled the start of the Tom Papworth show. His first try resulted from a great attacking line off Calum Rogers, which mesmerised the defence allowing him to ghost through. The Grant conversion was good making the score 21:5. The best was still to come though when Papworth returned a kick over 50 yards through the entire Moortown defence to score his second converted try of the game. What happened next though nearly turned the game on its head. Pontefract Captain and the Moortown winger engaged in some unnecessary argy bargy in the aftermath of the try resulting in a both players receiving a red card.
Its fair to say that Moortown adjusted to being a man down much better than Pontefract did. They started to apply pressure in the forwards which resulted in an excellent converted try from a rolling maul. Ponte did bounce back however and played some good rugby to pressure the visitors line, only for Calum Rogers to be inches short of scoring.
By now the Pontefract scrum was under pressure allowing Moortown’s loose forward to score a converted try. Fortunately for the home side Papworth once again glided through the away defence to seal his hat trick and give Ponte some breathing space at 33-19. Moortown always play for the full eighty minutes, and they were not done. A converted try made the last ten minutes a tense affair. With almost the last play of the game it looked for all the world that they would score again, but were thwarted by a remarkable tackle by Tad Nawanjowa. The Moortown supporters thought it was high, but fortunately the match official was right on the spot to rule it legal.
So, there it ended. A really good game of entertaining rugby, which Ponte deserved to win by playing some tenacious rugby with moments of brilliance. Whilst Papworth was the undoubted man of the match he was well supported by Punchard, Ketteridge and Metcalfe in the backs. In the forwards Knox, Anderson, Dedicoat and Brodie Matthews all worked hard and carried well.
Next week we go to Morley for the last 3pm kick off of the year. Once we hit November all kick offs will move to 2:15pm. Morley are one place above Ponte in the league so once again the stakes are high in North East 2. Thank you to our sponsors and supporters and we look forward to seeing you again at Morley or for our next home fixture against Crossleyans on November 8th.
One thing that has become apparent in this league is that there no room for complacency. There are no weak teams as high flying Wetherby found out when they came unstuck at home against the second bottom club Crossleyans. Pontefract were certainly not complacent and made a flying start to the game when centre Andy Coleman pounced on a loose ball and shook off would be tacklers to race 60 yards only to be pulled down agonisingly short. Help was at hand though as Papworth (more of him later) supported quickly allowing Coleman to regain his feet and dart over for the opening try which was converted by Ethan Grant.
Grant was soon back in action when he scampered through from 40 yards directly from a line out for a self-converted try to make the score 14:0. At the point the home team looked to be in charge, however Moortown have a cutting edge of their own, and the soon made it 14:5 when their prop showed a clean pair of heels to score.
The second half signalled the start of the Tom Papworth show. His first try resulted from a great attacking line off Calum Rogers, which mesmerised the defence allowing him to ghost through. The Grant conversion was good making the score 21:5. The best was still to come though when Papworth returned a kick over 50 yards through the entire Moortown defence to score his second converted try of the game. What happened next though nearly turned the game on its head. Pontefract Captain and the Moortown winger engaged in some unnecessary argy bargy in the aftermath of the try resulting in a both players receiving a red card.
Its fair to say that Moortown adjusted to being a man down much better than Pontefract did. They started to apply pressure in the forwards which resulted in an excellent converted try from a rolling maul. Ponte did bounce back however and played some good rugby to pressure the visitors line, only for Calum Rogers to be inches short of scoring.
By now the Pontefract scrum was under pressure allowing Moortown’s loose forward to score a converted try. Fortunately for the home side Papworth once again glided through the away defence to seal his hat trick and give Ponte some breathing space at 33-19. Moortown always play for the full eighty minutes, and they were not done. A converted try made the last ten minutes a tense affair. With almost the last play of the game it looked for all the world that they would score again, but were thwarted by a remarkable tackle by Tad Nawanjowa. The Moortown supporters thought it was high, but fortunately the match official was right on the spot to rule it legal.
So, there it ended. A really good game of entertaining rugby, which Ponte deserved to win by playing some tenacious rugby with moments of brilliance. Whilst Papworth was the undoubted man of the match he was well supported by Punchard, Ketteridge and Metcalfe in the backs. In the forwards Knox, Anderson, Dedicoat and Brodie Matthews all worked hard and carried well.
Next week we go to Morley for the last 3pm kick off of the year. Once we hit November all kick offs will move to 2:15pm. Morley are one place above Ponte in the league so once again the stakes are high in North East 2. Thank you to our sponsors and supporters and we look forward to seeing you again at Morley or for our next home fixture against Crossleyans on November 8th.
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