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Sat 12 Sep 2015 · Yorkshire Division Two
1st XVKnottingley
Tries: L Brown, c sant, T Chester, C Fawcett (3)Conversions: G Boyd (4)Penalties: G Boyd
41
37
Match of two halves
Jonathon Hill22 Aug 2019 - 06:07
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Ponte beat local rivals
A Game of Two Halves.
Pontefract’s season in division two of the Yorkshire League has thrown up a number of local derby matches and Saturday’s match at Moor Lane saw Pontefract pitted against old rivals, Knottingley.
Derby matches can be a bit dour with local pride adding a bit more of an edge than just winning the game. That coupled with playing in front of over 100 ex Ponte players put a bit of extra expectation on the Pontefract team.
The result was a cracking game of rugby union football with the classy Pontefract back line pitted against a determined, never say die Knottingley pack which went right to the final whistle.
Pontefract opened the game at a high tempo and were determined to put pressure on the Knottingley backs which resulted in some hurried kicks to touch. On the eight minute mark Knottingley were adjudged to have gone over the top of a ruck and Glenn Boyd opened the scoring with a penalty goal for Pontefract. Knottingley came back with some determined drives up the centre from second row pairing of Clayton and Haytor which eventually caught Pontefract off side and Nicky Beach equalled the scores at 3-3
An attack up the left wing by Tom Chester saw him outpace his support, unfortunately in the tackle he lost the ball which resulted in a Knottingley drive back up field which eventually saw Andy Lund force his way over for a try near the posts. Beach added the extras to make the score 10-3 to Knottingley.
A Minute later kick off Louis Brown picked up a loose ball just outside the Knottingley 22 and weaved his way through a gaggle of Knottingley defenders to touch down. Boyd added the conversion to equal the scores at 10-10. On the 24 minutes mark a good rolling maul set up by Hough and Scott saw the ball quickly into Chris Sant’s hands for him to score out wide. Boyd could not add the extras making the score 15-10 to Pontefract. The pace of the game resulted in a number of penalties against Knottingley for infringements at the ruck keeping them pinned in their 22. From one ruck text book quick passing from Boyd and Fawcett saw Tom Chester cross from 10 metres out . This time Boyd added the conversion . Score 22 -10 to Pontefract. Two minutes later Ponte were again on the scoreboard , follow up pressure from a Pontefract box kick saw Knottingley spill the ball and skipper Craig Fawcett gather and cross wide out on the left wing. The conversion was good making the score 29-10.
A few minutes later Pontefract were penalised for being off their feet at the ruck and the resulting line out saw Knottingley draw the Pontefract defence left before switching the ball back right for Ryan Eades to cross in the right corner. The conversion was missed and the half time score was 29-15 to Pontefract.
Five minutes in to the second half saw Brown and Fawcett interpassing at pace for Fawcett to cross out on the left wing. Boyd could not add the conversion making the score 34-15.
Trying to keep the pace high saw too many handling errors creep into the Pontefract game and gradually the Knottingley pack started to make their weight felt in mid field. However it was Ponte who scored the next try against the grain of play. Rasher Bacon made a searing break down the left wing and after drawing the defenders slipped a soft pass for Fawcett to add his third try and his second hat trick in two weeks. Boyd added the conversion to make the score 41-22.
The next 20 minutes were all Knottingley as Pontefract were pinned back by a series of penalties for off side. The Pontefract pack defended well with Andy Fradgley well to the fore but pressure told and firstly Carl Clayton forced his way over for a converted try on the 60 minute mark. Another try quickly followed Pontefract were adjudged to have collapsed a maul and from the resulting line out scrum half Jamie Milton crossed for an unconverted try the score now 41-27.
On the 70 minute mark Louis Brown fielded a Knottingley kick deep down field . He set off on a mazey run through the Knottingley cover but his pass to Chester was adjudged forward with the cover beaten.
Another series of penalties saw Knottingley pin Pontefract back in their 22 and after some spirited defence from the Pontefract pack Steven Seed took an offload to cross the whitewash. The conversion was missed and a grand stand finish was set up with the core 41-32 with eight minutes to play. Knottingley kept up the pressure and with injury time ticking down a penalty saw Knottingley kick to the corner. From the line out they set up a driving maul which saw a score in the corner which went unconverted . The final score being 41 -37 to Pontefract
The five points see Pontefract stay at the top of League 2 and Knottingley thoroughly deserved their two bonus points.
Pontefract’s season in division two of the Yorkshire League has thrown up a number of local derby matches and Saturday’s match at Moor Lane saw Pontefract pitted against old rivals, Knottingley.
Derby matches can be a bit dour with local pride adding a bit more of an edge than just winning the game. That coupled with playing in front of over 100 ex Ponte players put a bit of extra expectation on the Pontefract team.
The result was a cracking game of rugby union football with the classy Pontefract back line pitted against a determined, never say die Knottingley pack which went right to the final whistle.
Pontefract opened the game at a high tempo and were determined to put pressure on the Knottingley backs which resulted in some hurried kicks to touch. On the eight minute mark Knottingley were adjudged to have gone over the top of a ruck and Glenn Boyd opened the scoring with a penalty goal for Pontefract. Knottingley came back with some determined drives up the centre from second row pairing of Clayton and Haytor which eventually caught Pontefract off side and Nicky Beach equalled the scores at 3-3
An attack up the left wing by Tom Chester saw him outpace his support, unfortunately in the tackle he lost the ball which resulted in a Knottingley drive back up field which eventually saw Andy Lund force his way over for a try near the posts. Beach added the extras to make the score 10-3 to Knottingley.
A Minute later kick off Louis Brown picked up a loose ball just outside the Knottingley 22 and weaved his way through a gaggle of Knottingley defenders to touch down. Boyd added the conversion to equal the scores at 10-10. On the 24 minutes mark a good rolling maul set up by Hough and Scott saw the ball quickly into Chris Sant’s hands for him to score out wide. Boyd could not add the extras making the score 15-10 to Pontefract. The pace of the game resulted in a number of penalties against Knottingley for infringements at the ruck keeping them pinned in their 22. From one ruck text book quick passing from Boyd and Fawcett saw Tom Chester cross from 10 metres out . This time Boyd added the conversion . Score 22 -10 to Pontefract. Two minutes later Ponte were again on the scoreboard , follow up pressure from a Pontefract box kick saw Knottingley spill the ball and skipper Craig Fawcett gather and cross wide out on the left wing. The conversion was good making the score 29-10.
A few minutes later Pontefract were penalised for being off their feet at the ruck and the resulting line out saw Knottingley draw the Pontefract defence left before switching the ball back right for Ryan Eades to cross in the right corner. The conversion was missed and the half time score was 29-15 to Pontefract.
Five minutes in to the second half saw Brown and Fawcett interpassing at pace for Fawcett to cross out on the left wing. Boyd could not add the conversion making the score 34-15.
Trying to keep the pace high saw too many handling errors creep into the Pontefract game and gradually the Knottingley pack started to make their weight felt in mid field. However it was Ponte who scored the next try against the grain of play. Rasher Bacon made a searing break down the left wing and after drawing the defenders slipped a soft pass for Fawcett to add his third try and his second hat trick in two weeks. Boyd added the conversion to make the score 41-22.
The next 20 minutes were all Knottingley as Pontefract were pinned back by a series of penalties for off side. The Pontefract pack defended well with Andy Fradgley well to the fore but pressure told and firstly Carl Clayton forced his way over for a converted try on the 60 minute mark. Another try quickly followed Pontefract were adjudged to have collapsed a maul and from the resulting line out scrum half Jamie Milton crossed for an unconverted try the score now 41-27.
On the 70 minute mark Louis Brown fielded a Knottingley kick deep down field . He set off on a mazey run through the Knottingley cover but his pass to Chester was adjudged forward with the cover beaten.
Another series of penalties saw Knottingley pin Pontefract back in their 22 and after some spirited defence from the Pontefract pack Steven Seed took an offload to cross the whitewash. The conversion was missed and a grand stand finish was set up with the core 41-32 with eight minutes to play. Knottingley kept up the pressure and with injury time ticking down a penalty saw Knottingley kick to the corner. From the line out they set up a driving maul which saw a score in the corner which went unconverted . The final score being 41 -37 to Pontefract
The five points see Pontefract stay at the top of League 2 and Knottingley thoroughly deserved their two bonus points.
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