Dronfield 15 - 13 Pontefract

It was the first ever visit to Dronfield for Pontefract and there were few complaints at the result, although the teams famous never say die attitude nearly took the points.

Dronfield, who are in the lower reaches of the league but have lost many games by the odd point, played an excellent game. Playing up a significant slope first half, Ponte needlessly gave away an early penalty which gave Dronfield the field position and opportunity to score a well worked early try. This woke Ponte up and an excellent phase of ball retention forced a penalty which Liam Kay converted to bring the score back to five points to three.

There was no shortage of effort from Ponte but indiscipline cost the team dear. With the slope, field position near Ponte line was tough to defend. A string of penalties enabled this and the hosts scored a converted try through forward drives, stretching the lead to ten points.

Ponte threw everything at the well drilled Dron defence which was tough and aggressive. A yellow card apiece for handbags resulted as the game became ill disciplined and scrappy. Ponte did well to keep Dron from scoring another try but managed to get a try of their own before half time. An inside pass came off the leg of flanker Leo Harrison, who chased the ball to the line for an unconverted try. It was a real bonus with the second half slope advantage and was nearly even better as a break and kick through from player coach Craig Fawcett nearly brought a try from the last play of the half.

The second half was a frustrating affair for Ponte. A foot in touch denied a try for centre Andy Coleman, whilst they could not take advantage of been a man up as two Dronfield players had ten minutes off along with captain Liam Kay. The players did not endear themselves to the referee as a stream of penalties allowed the home side to convert one to stretch their lead to seven points with time running out.

One facet of Ponte’s game which was superior was the scrums. Rarely do you see such one-sided affairs. Ponte could not get a scrum in the opponents twenty-two all half but managed a pushover try from the twenty-two, with Sam Millard at eight benefitting. Dedicoat hit the post with the conversion and there was no more score in the game, with Kay failing to repeat his heroics of the previous game, missing a penalty from the halfway line.

So, Ponte had to settle for one losing bonus point, and move on to next week’s mouth-watering game against table topping Moortown at home. Tad Nyanjowa was given man of the match for Ponte with the lads responsible for the scrum dominance worthy of mention. The lads knew this was an opportunity missed, but there are no easy games.

The 2nd XV had a fine win at home against Leeds Medics & Dentists RUFC.