Pontefract RUFC v Sheffield Medicals

Pontefract Ist XV v Sheffield Medicals
Unavailability and injuries resulted in a reshuffled Pontefract team that probably gave its poorest performance of the season during the first half of this Yorkshire Div 2 match. While trying to stick to their game plan of playing open rugby everything they tried to do either misfired or broke down through poor decision making or lapses in handling. Coupled with a high penalty count against them resulted in their opponents developing a healthy half time lead of 24 points.
Three penalties in the first 13 minutes saw Sheffield off to a good start giving them a 0-9 lead. Pontefract played some good attacking rugby with wings Dedicoat and Beecher proving elusive and causing problems out wide but a number of chances went begging through dropped passes which allowed Sheffield to keep clearing their lines. Pontefract also suffered from the referee’s displeasure around the ruck and a series of penalties set up good field position for Sheffield out wide on the left. From the line out they set up a series of driving mauls to put pressure on the Pontefract line. Initially Pontefract held them out but eventually the Sheffield pack drove over for a converted try taking the score to 0-16. Pontefract then had a player yellow carded for another ruck offence and taking the penalty took the score to 0-19.
Sheffield made the most of a one man advantage in the pack and drove up field from the kick off before releasing their backs. The Sheffield stand off made a fine break through the centre mid field before being stopped by Pontefract skipper Fawcett but he managed to off load to support who though tackled short got the ball down under the posts the referee deciding it was momentum that took him over. The try was converted making the half time score 0-24.
Pontefract started the second half still a man down but moves began to click and had their first points on the board within 5 minutes of the kick off. From a Pontefract scrum Ian Mattison stood wide but the Sheffield defence stayed narrow, he quickly flicked on Walker’s long pass to Sant who found space for an outside break before passing back inside to Fawcett who joined the line at pace to dance through the cover to score wide on the right. Mattison added the difficult conversion 7-24 to Sheffield.
Minutes later a similar move started by Matthew Bacon put Fawcett through again. This time he was caught but Bacon was up in support to cross under the posts, the extras were added making the score 14-24.
Back to full strength the Pontefract pack got on top of their opponents. With 20 minutes gone a line out on the Sheffield 22 saw them set up a driving maul which drove hooker Andy Smith over in the left corner. The conversion narrowly missed taking Pontefract to 19 points.
Pontefract now had their tails up and chances opened up as they played at pace but luck was on Sheffield’s side. John Fradgley broke free on the blind side but put a foot in touch. Andy Smith made a 30 metre break but was bundled into touch before support got to him. A penalty saw Pontefract set up a line out on the Sheffield 22. From the line out Sheffield were adjudged to have brought the resulting maul down and found themselves down to 7 men in their pack . Pontefract made the advantage tell, twice driving over the line but the ball was adjudged not grounded. From the third scrum Josh Walker ran cross field fixing the Sheffield defence before quick hands got the ball to Rich Dedicoat to dive in at the right corner. Again Ian Mattison added the touch line conversion putting Pontefract in front 26-24. Pontefract then probably tried too hard to finish the game off and missed two clear cut chances . With minutes to go Dedicoat had the line open but a poor last pass put the ball in touch. Sheffield won the ball and their full back kicked on and won the kick chase to score near the Pontefract posts . The score was converted making the final score 26-31 to Sheffield.
A great fight back, Pontefract will rue the chances they missed but did manage to pick up 2 losing bonus points