Pontefract 28 Malton and Norton 31

Pontefract suffered an early blow as captain and playmaker Liam Kay was forced into a late withdrawal with a foot injury.
This was a match Ponte could and should have won but two yellow cards, a stream of penalties against, and some poor game management left the visitors snatching defeat with the last play of the game.

The game started badly for Pontefract as penalty after penalty allowed Malton into good field position which proved too much for the home defence with a converted score for the visitors. Ponte hit back with superb runs from Tim Pickersgill and Leo Harrison straight from the kick off only to give away another needless penalty to relieve the pressure. Soon after Ponte did reply as outstanding full back Richard Dedicoat finished off a move he had started with a searing break. He converted the try and the scores were level.

Ponte continued to look the better side but every spell of pressure was relieved by a penalty, mostly at the breakdown, giving Malton the chance to work their way up field and convert a penalty for offside to take a three point lead.

Worse was to follow as prop Ethan Potts was soon after yellow carded as the referee finally lost patience with the constant infringements at the breakdown. Another penalty goal stretched the lead for Malton before they pulled away with another score. Ponte were expecting a clearance kick but Malton chanced their arm and ran from deep with the referee adjudging from afar that Malton had won the footrace from a kick through.

At eighteen to seven down Ponte needed a reply. The scrum, which was so magnificent last year, came to the rescue as the referee awarded a dubious penalty try when another penalty and a yellow card would surely have been the correct decision. No-one from Ponte were complaining however as the whistle went for half time and a four point deficit.

Ponte applied some pressure after the restart and good handling in the backs ended with impressive winger Ciaran Tucker putting Dedicoat in for his second, self converted try of the game.

With a three-point lead and then Ponte produced the try of the match. A chip over from fly half Hossack was taken on by Harrison and Dedicoat before Tad Nyanjowa powered under the post for another converted try.

Ten points in front and it seemed Ponte had the game in the bag. Malton, to their credit had other ideas. A dropped ball from the kick off gave the visitors position and another penalty reduced the arrears by three. This was followed by another three as the stream of penalties continued.

It was credit to Malton that they kept calm and took the game deep into the half. Their patience paid off as Ponte had a couple of minutes to forget. Firstly, with the ball won , centre Andy Coleman received a yellow card for retaliation. From the penalty Malton moved upfield and nearly scored, only a knock on saving the hosts. From the scrum it should have been a simple exit strategy and the game would have been won. It wasn’t to be though as Ponte tried to pass their way out of trouble and a knock on resulted. From the scrum Malton scored and the game was gone, much to the disbelief of everyone.

Two bonus points was a useful consolation and there were many plusses from the performance. The set piece was excellent, Sam Millard was given the home side man of the match for his strong running whilst joint captain Stephen Reynolds made a good impression after missing all last season with injury. The downside was the hefty penalty count and the decision making. Plenty for the coaching staff to work on this week as the team visit much fancied Moortown next Saturday.