Pontefract prevail in tale of 2 halves

Pontefract V Wetherby was a tale of 2 halves this weekend, a stark contrast from the first half to the second for Pontefract RUFC.
The first half was a tale of mistakes with many handling errors throughout the first half especially in the first 20 minutes where there must have been 10 scrums at least. Neither side could get a foot hold in the game until Wetherby were given a penalty try for a dubious high tackle. Pontefract were able to get in decent positions but were not able to progress in the final third due to consistent errors. Pontefract were able to get on the score board through a great solo effort by Glenn Boyd with a quick show and go managed to weave through the Wetherby line and stepped the full back to score Pontes first try, with Liam Kay converting. Liam Kay kicked another penalty for Pontefract in the first half but another try and penalty from Wetherby put them in front at half time with a score of 17-10.

Second half was much improved from Pontefracts point of view with the costly mistakes in the first half been wiped out in the second. From the kick off Pontefract put the Wetherby attack under pressure and resulted in a knock on. Pontefract won the scrum, and were dominant in the scrum and set piece all throughout the game with Front row of Lane, Hill and Scholey dominating the opposition. From the scrum Ponte were able to work play wide with quick passing from Callum Watt and Craig Fawcett took wide, from here quick ball again from Watt to hooker Jonny Hill, stepped through 2 defenders and charged his way over the line with help from Lane for Pontes first try of the second half. Mattison Converted.
Straight from the kick off Ponte were on the ascendancy with strong running from Beddis and Sant who were constantly a thorn in the Wetherby side. Form the strong running of the forwards , the backs managed to get a man over and Captain Fawcett broke the line and scored his 17th try of the season, Mattison converting.
The pressure continued from Pontefract pushing the scrum back from a Wetherby scrum for Boyd to kick the ball to the wing for Bacon the run in another try. Bacon was rewarded for his consistent hard work throughout the game after running strong lines and tireless effort in defence. Mattison converting again.

The final try of the game came from 10 Glen Boyd who rolled back the years and broke the defence of Wetherby at the half way and dodged and dived his way to the line to just make the try line for his second of the game, another strong performance from the Pontefract 10.

After a poor first half Pontefract were able to make things stick in the second half and a much more controlled Pontefract were able to prevail against Wetherby not allowing them a single point in the second half. Attacking and defending Pontefract were on top, superior fitness also prevailed in the end.
Pontefract have Wetherby in the Quarter final of the Yorkshire Shield on 25th February at home, look forward to having everyone down for the fixture. Pontefract are next away to Thornesians on 11th February