Selby 8 Pontefract 24
It was farmers day at Selby and many four by fours turned up to swell the numbers and make the traditionally tough local derby into a real occasion. Selby have struggled this season but were in no mood to lie down and give Ponte an easy win in their quest for the title.
The talk before the game was the absence of captain Liam Kay and the decision to replace him with inexperienced Charlie Harris who excelled on the day with dazzling footwork and solid defence.
Ponte had the best of the early skirmishes but a mixture of good defence from the opposition and a lack of patience at certain times stopped a score. With Selby down a man to a yellow card, a try soon followed. The constant bullocking drives from the likes of Brodie Matthews and Steve Reynolds paid dividends as a half break and offload from Harris allowed Richard Dedicoat to put Andy Coleman in at the corner.
A brilliant break from Reynolds straight from the kick off put Ponte back on the attack, with Leo Harrison getting tackled just short. The second try soon followed as forward drives from Josh Hough and Reynolds sucked in the defence and allowed evergreen centre Craig Fawcett to make a break and offload to winger Linden Metcalf whose lightning quick hands found Brodie Matthews lurking out wide for a score behind the posts. Dedicoat converted and it was twelve to nil at half time, as resolute defence kept Selby at bay before the interval.
With Tad Nyanjowa getting a yellow card early in the second half, it was backs to the wall and Selby struck an early blow with a well struck penalty. Tremendous cover tackles from Tim Pickersgill and Sam Millard stopped a certain Selby score, but from then on it was all Ponte. Two Selby yellow cards allowed pressure, and a quick tap from excellent scrum half Harry Woolastan allowed Ethan Potts to put Coleman over for his second, converted by Dedicoat.
A yellow card for Bailly Matthews gave Selby position to score an unconverted try, but any hopes of a comeback were extinguished as Ponte scored a fantastic bonus point winning try to seal the game. Great interplay between backs and forwards allowed Fawcett to roll back the years and magic his way to the line, with Dedicoat adding the extras. There was still time for Nyanjowa to collect his second yellow, but it was a pleasing victory at a ground where Ponte traditionally struggle.
Man of the match for Ponte, in a game everyone fronted up, was Millard, closely followed by Potts, Brodie Matthews, Reynolds and Woolastan.
Ilkley 5 Pontefract 6
In a very short period of time, Pontefract’s booming mini junior section has become tremendous success story. Leading the way are the junior colts, who progressed to the Yorkshire cup final in a nail-biting semi-final. Cheered on by coach full of supporters, the team defended heroically and ran hard to build a six points to nil lead thanks to two well struck penalties from full back Alfie Abbot.
The work the coaching team has put in paid dividends as Ilkley gave away an avalanche of penalties, mainly at the breakdown. The game hinged on a conversion to a late Ilkley try, which was the last kick of the game. Thankfully the ball sailed wide and the celebrations began.
It was a fine team performance but special mention on the day to Morgan Kennelly and Joe Dowd’s all action performances, whilst Ethan Grant ran the game from scrum half. The final is due to be played on the 23rd April against Malton and Norton.