Pontefract RUFC v Old Crossleyans RUFC

The 2016/17 season kicked off with a tough league fixture against Old Crossleyans who were relegated from Yorkshire One last season. The Pontefract team were pushing for a good start to the season and hoping to eliminate mistakes which cost them games from last season. The weather was not what was expected for the start of September, a downpour ensued just before kick off and lasted the majority of the game, making conditions very greasy on pitch and the ball.
Pontefract’s young side were hoping to alleviate the mistakes which cost them the majority of last season, and get a win and a solid start to the 2016/17 campaign.
The game started well, Pontefract were on top thanks to some Strong tackling from Rob Stringer, which resulted in Ponte winning the ball from the kick off. A few strong runs by the forwards opened up some space on the left flank with Glen Boyd able to dummy a pass and dancing his way over the try line for the games first try, Ian Mattison converted to make it 7-0 in the first 5 minutes. Again some strong tackling from the back row resulted in turnover ball which was passed quickly to Craig Fawcett who forced himself over the line after some quick feet , with Ian Mattison again kicking the conversion, 14-0 inside 10 minutes.
After the kick off, some more strong running by the forwards got Glen Boyd the ball to release the pressure and a line out to Old Crocs in their own 22m. Some good disruption by Pontefract in the lineout, meant the ball was knocked backwards by the Old Crocs line and Rob Stringer, despite being held back by the opposition was able to get the ball down in goal area to score his first try of the season and another converted kick by Mattison gave the Ponte a 21-0 lead after 20 minutes.

After some sustained pressure from Old Crossleyans forwards and some good defence from Ponte backs and forwards, the ball was hoofed down pitch and the first victim of the wet weather was taken, the Old Crocs full back dropped the ball, Scrum Pontefract 15 m out. After a strong scrummage by the Ponte forwards, and a strong run from the back of the scrum to the blindside by Jonny Burrow, the openside side lit up for Ian Mattison, and Glen Boyds precision kick landed perfect for Mattison to run in for his first try of the game, however he missed his own conversion, the score now 26-0 after 28 mins.
After another strong pick up from Richard Scott from the kick off , Ponte were able to gain momentum and Pontes abck who were outstanding in the first half were able to put on another move which resulted in Glen Boyd passing over the line for his second score of the game, with a kicked conversion the score was 31-0.
After a lapse of concentration from the kick off Ponte lost the ball and from a scrum Old Crocs were bale to gain a bit of momentum and cross the line from a strong line run by their centre, bringing the half to a close at 31 – 7 to Ponte.
The second half was promised so much after the first however, it seems that Ponte lost their concentration and thought the game was done. Strong running by the Old Crocs forwards found a hole in Pontes defence and an offload to their 10 resulted in a try for the away team. With the confidence building Old crocs were very much more the team Pontefract expected and Pontefract weathered the storm with some Strong tackling from Back rowers, Rob Stringer and Jonny Burrow. Lineout ball wasn’t taken as cleanly as in the first half and passes by the backs weren’t meeting their target, making a very sloppy second half for Ponte. The defensive line which was good throughout the first half lapsed and Old crocs were able to sneak down the blind side and score again. A positive for the second half was that the scrums were holding and pushing Old Crocs back, with the front 3 of Lane, Hill and Chaba keeping pressure on throughout the game. A penalty from 25m out was Pontes only score in the second half which resulted in a win for Pontefract In the opening game of the season against strong opponents. The final score, 34 – 26 to Pontefract, however their was much to work on, as we will not be able to have a second half like that again this season, poor structure and easing off ruined what was a fantastic first half of rugby. However a win is a win and hopefully we can move this forward when we play Barnsley away next week