Pontefract U12 made the journey down the M62 to local rivals Hull Ionians on Sunday the 14th of September for their first outing and one they new would be a thrilling game.

Pontefract kicked off and straight away turned the ball over with Cain being dominant in the tackle and Rigby jackaling the ball. The first third of the game saw Pontefract holding Hull Ionians in their own half if not their own 22. Hull trying their best to run the ball out but not breaching the defensive wall and if they did, only by a few meters before being brought to ground. Despite being in the opposition’s territory, the game was equally parred with Hull turning defence into attack and then Pontefract turning defence into attack. Gamble, trout, Cain, Oddy and Marsden being dominant and critical in the defence, with Spears, Steadman and linking up, being as critical when turning into attack. Pontefract looking the more dangerous when shifting the ball across the field in attack getting ball out to Brook and Maylan on the wings. Ionians only got inside Pontefract’s half three times during the first third of the game, this showing how much the Pontefract team were putting in.

Pontefract started the second third of the game just where they left off, the stronger team and receiving the ball from kick off, wasn’t long until they were in the Ionians half again and camped there. Credit to Ionians whose defence was strong, and Pontefract couldn’t breach despite phase after phase from the forwards and wide long balls out from the backs. Pontefract continued in strength in the jackles, winning over half they contested for and turning this defence into attack but just couldn’t breach the defence of Ionians. Ionians were the first to score, after a handing error saw them with the ball and making yards into the Pontefract half with a few phases from their forwards before getting the ball out wide to score in the corner. This was only the second time they had been in Pontefract’s half but their most dangerous. Ionians, opting to receive from the kick off quickly found themselves in the Pontefract half once more, but the determination of Pontefract kept pressured Ionians to give away a penalty. Clift kicking the ball three quarters of the field to gain territory in the opposition half, and then Pontefract set up camp there, wearing the opposition down phase by phase. Both teams again turning defence into attack and it wasn’t long before Ionians were in Pontefract’s 22 but again gave away a penalty. Clift once more finding touch three quarters of the field and in Ionians 22, Pontefract worked this to their advantage and after a few forward phases up the middle, the Ionians defence split just as Clift picked the ball from the ruck to cross over the line to draw the score line. Ionians restarted the game, just a little more critical than Pontefract in some areas and it was this that helped then score their second try of the game just before the end of the third.

The third and final part of the game was as tight and close as the first two, with every Pontefract lad giving their all and leaving it on the pitch at the end. Forwards working up the field in phase after phase, backs breaking down the flanks and making more yardage but then all the team having to defend as Ionians turned their defence into attack and were the first to score in this third quarter. Pontefract, tired but not willing to quit and lie down continued to impress with the forwards working up the field, short phases and the backs getting out wide. Pontefract found themselves in the Ionians 22 once more from a penalty and after two direct runs, the ball was shifted across the back line to Trout, out wide on the wing to score the teams second try. The last 5 minutes was just as tight as all the previous, both teams being big in attack and even bigger in defence and unfortunately Pontefract couldn’t find their way over the try line for a third. At the end of the game, Ionians had scored three tries and Pontefract two.

There were so many positives to take form the game, with new players joining the squad and new rules to get use to, the Pontefract squad really did start the season off well. Strong in all aspects and something the coaches are keen to improve on ready for their next game, against Sheffield Tigers at home on the 21st of September.

Awards went to

Top Tackler Award, Reid Trout & Max Gamble

Parents Player – Thomas Marsden

Opposition Man of the Match – Leo Cain

Coaches Man of the Match – Toby Rigby

Awards could have gone to any of the players on the day as all the team put one heck of a shift in.