Pontefract came agonisingly close to winning Saturday’s encounter with second-placed Pocklington Rugby Club, going down 12 to 22 in a nail-biting game of rugby. With the score 12 -16 going into the final quarter, Pontefract felt they were gaining the ascendency and the large crowd of home supporters were hoping for the pressure to pay off with a try to clinch the game, only for Pock to score with five minutes of the game remaining, denying Pontefract even a losing bonus point which hopefully does not prove decisive at the bottom end of the Regional Two NE table at the end of the season.

Pontefract were again slow to get into the game, conceding two tries in the first half despite some heroic defence from Brodie Matthews and his old teammate from King’s School, Tad Nowanjowa, and failing to capitalise on several line-breaks by, firstly, Tom Papworth, then Sam Gilbert, Will Cooke and Linden Metcalfe.

Losing 0-15 at half time meant Pontefract had to battle hard to get back into contention. But a couple of captivating tries by Tom Papworth who spellbound the opposition three-quarters with his speed, agility and shear stubbornness, who literally refuses to be tackled, brought Pontefract to within touching distance of a win.

The quest for the winning try was somewhat unfortunately hampered by injuries to a couple of critical players (flying wingman, Josh Milthorpe and the industrious Linden Metcalfe) forcing Pontefract to re-jig their backline: veteran second-row, Andy Lund, finding himself, firstly, feeding the scrum as scrum-half and then out wide on the right-wing.

Said winning try proved elusive despite the endeavour of a sterling Pontefract performance. Pock’s director of rugby observed that the second half became more disjointed; that’s because they didn’t have it their own way as in the first-half, as Pontefract’s forwards stepped up and put them under considerable pressure. Jayden Field was awarded Pontefract’s player of the match by the Pocklington coaching team for his all-round and technically excellent display both going forward with power and pace and in defence, with Lundy getting the consolation prize.

It’s a free weekend next week, but the Second team are in action at home against Beverly, 15.00 kick-off, with the final days’ action in the Six Nations Championship being shown on TV in the Clubhouse. I never thought I’d be writing this but, what do you think, Scotland for the title?