Keen to end the year in style, Pontefract made a strong start in defence, as tackles from Toby Macca and George on the home side’s line stopped what looked to be 2 certain tries. Ponte then cleared the lines against what was clearly a spirited and well drilled Sheffield team.

At the other end, Pontefract then showed lovely hands and a Grayson drop off almost ended in a try as he skipped through half the Sheffield tigers team. Sheffield held firm on an d on a number of occasions, but the damn eventually burst when Jake barged over for a superb close-quarters try to make it 1-0. In years to come it’ll have been from at least 50 yards.

Pontefract’s strong defence continued when Nate put in the tackle of the century, leaving a poor Sheffield player picking his ribs up from the mud.

Ponte kept the pressure on, but passes that should have gone to men in space didn’t, but eventually Austin crashed over after a determined charge making it 2-0

As the first period continued to see-saw, Toby Macca put several vital tackles, however Sheffield then closed the half with a well earned try out wide to make it 2-1 at the break.

In the second period, Grayson put 2 stonking tackles in, but Sheffield kept coming and pounced on a gap in the Pontefract defence to score a second.

Toby Macca the. Showed his prowess with ball in hand, returning the ball 40 metres from deep to build on a fine first period’s defensive work.

He and Will Taylor then came close, before Grayson eventually crashed over in the corner making it 3-2.

Sheffield had a couple of flyers and one of them scorched in to draw level again at 3-3.
Sheffield then exposed Pontefract again as the home side’s failed to pull defenders wide, taking the lead for the first time in the game at 3-4.

Ponte started the third period strongly, and as Lucas switched the play, he found Austin who cut inside to crash over drawing the scores at 4-4.

Lucas continued to grow in confidence and the stormed over for a lovely try, teasing the Sheffield defence on his way to the line, making it 5-4.

From a scrum, Austin then cut back inside for a trademark finish and another fine try. 6-4. From another scrum, a switch play saw Grayson run aggressively and Sheffield couldn’t stop him and in doing so, Pontefract opened up a comfortable margin for the first time in the game.

Lucas then capped a fine game, as he crashed over for to close the game at 8-4.

Not everything went Pontefract’s way today, but they showed calm head beyond their years and real team spirit, pulling back from being 3-4 down, to score 5 unanswered tries in the final period. Based on that, we can safely say all 13 players should have cemented their place on Santa’s ‘Good’ list.

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