Another win for improving Pontefract

Pontefract v Old Grovians
Saturday 23rd January Moor Lane Carleton
This was the third meeting of these two teams this season with honours even, both teams had everything to play for. After narrowly winning in the Yorkshire Shield and losing away, the home team knew they would be faced by a gritty pack who played to their strengths using their weight in the scrums and driving mauls. Pontefract were determined not to get into an arm wrestle but were also confident that the home pack could hold their own.
Pontefract kicked off and were soon into their stride. Winning the ball back from the kick off the home pack set up a driving maul out to the left wing. Quick ball allowed the backs to set up a set move which saw skipper Fawcett make a half break before handing onto Rich Dedicoat on the right wing who beat two men before putting in a grubber kick. The opposition thought the ball was going dead but had not reckoned on the pace of Chris Sant who chased the ball down for a an unconverted try.
Old Grovians started getting back into the game with some good driving mauls and pulled the score back to 5-3 when they were given a penalty for a high tackle. Pontefract kept to their high tempo game and on the 20 minute mark a good kick by Boyd pinned Old Grovians inside their own 22 .
Pontefract stole the resulting line out throw and Matty Williams drove hard towards the sticks, again a quick ball from the resulting ruck provided Pontefract with a three man overlap. Luke Beecher coming off his wing got on the end of an inside pass to score out on the right wing. Again the score was not converted, score 10-3.
Ten minutes later the visitors evened the scoring, after Pontefract were on the end of a series of penalties at rucks and mauls, when their left wing rounded his opposite number to score close into the posts for a converted try. The score was 10-10 at half time.
Old Grovians started the second half with some strong driving rucks but the Pontefract pack were more than equal to the task and strong tackling and some good scrummaging by young props Lane and Chabba began to drive their opponents back. From one such ruck Pontefract turned the ball over and good driving play from the back row of Sandwith, Burrow and Beddis resulted in a break down the right wing by Beecher. He was tackled with support on hand but prevented from releasing the ball. Josh Walker took the option of a tap penalty to keep the momentum going and handed on to Jack Beddis who drove for the line. With support on either side he went over himself. Full back Sanderson was having an unlucky day with the boot and for the second time Old Grovians were saved by the posts.
Pontefract were now beginning to get the upper hand in the scrums and beginning to disrupt the pattern of the opposition line out play. On the 55 minute mark a skilful chip over and catch followed by a kick on by Sanderson put Ponte within 5 metres of the Old Grovians’ line. Again they stole the line out ball and Matty Williams got on the back of a driving maul to take the score to 20-10.
Old Grovians stuck to their game plan of using their pack to tie in the Pontefract forwards before releasing their backs but time and again fierce defence drove them back over the gain line and they had nothing to show for a good ten minute spell in the Pontefract half. A penalty from a 5 metre scrum allowed Boyd to relieve the pressure on his forwards. Again good disruptive work by Scott and Sandwith at the line out resulted in Pontefract coming away with the ball and Pontefract then had a golden spell where their backs began to cause problems for the Old Grovian defence. They drove the ball over but were deemed to be held up and hooker Andy Smith was brought back for a forward pass. After winning the ball at a 5 metres scrum Old Grovians thought they had relieved the pressure with a kick deep into the Pontefract half. It was retrieved by Dedicoat who linked with his skipper who put in a deep grubber kick which was chased down by John Fradgley forcing the full back to carry over his own line. Burrow drove off the back of the following scrum drawing the cover before handing the ball to Fawcett to score close into the posts. This time Pontefract added the extras to make the score 27-10.
Pontefract’s fitness was now beginning to tell and Old Grovians were penalised a number of times at the rucks for men laying on the wrong side or not rolling away as Pontefract tried to keep the tempo high. Walker took one penalty quickly which the backs soon turned into an overlap with space. John Fradgley drove the ball deep close to the Old Grovians’ line before passing inside to wing forward Beddis who was held close but slipped the ball to Walker in support for him to dive under two defenders for the last converted try right on full time. Final Score 34-10
Pontefract remain in equal third place in the league and travel to Old Rishworthians next week with a squad that is improving in confidence.