Pontefract V Heath
Pontefract went into this game looking for their first home win of the season after winning 3 away games and losing 1 at home.
Pontefract started off strongly and turned the ball over quickly from kick off. Some strong runs from the forwards, led by Gaz Burns opened up Heaths defence, enabling Coach Craig Fawcett to dance through the defence to offload to second row Stephen Reynolds to run in under the sticks, in the first 3 minutes Ponte were up. Converted by Callum Watts.
Pontefract continued to pile on the pressure in the next 5 mins and Heaths lack of discipline Pontefract down the pitch into Heaths half. Pontefract’s line outs worked seamlessly all game which gave the backs plenty of time to attack. Winning a Penalty under the stick Callum Watts was able to convert to take the score to 10 -0.
Heat came back into the game as their strong scrum enabled them to get some front foot ball, but the defensive effort from Pontefract was too good for Heath to break through. Pontefract gave heath too much space and Heath ended up with a scrum in Pontefract 5 m. The resulting Scrum was picked by the 8 and crashed over for their only score in the first half, unconverted took the score to 10-8, as 5 mins earlier they kicked a penalty to get on the scoreboard.
Pontefract came back fighting and finding touch from the penalties gave backs more attacking ball form the ever efficient line out. Strong carries from the front row of Hill, Smith and Griffin. Pontefract were dominating possession and socred again, a swtich of play from Glen boyd, and off loads from Burns to Richard Dedicoat who broke the line and passed out wide for Andy Coleman to get his second try in as many games. Converted by Callum Watts. Another Penalty by Watts gave the half time Score 20-8.

Pontefract started bright again in the second half, continuing with their strong defence from Sandwith and Reynolds and strong carries by Lund and Millard. Some silly penalties gave Heath a chance to kick to the corner, they played to their strength and scored from a 5m line out, with an unsuccessful conversion.
Another silly penalty and the same play happened again, scoring a push over try from a 5 m lineout, conversion again. score line 20-18.
Pontefract then began to keep hold of possession and keep hold of the ball for long periods of time. When they didn’t have the ball the defence was up front and stopping Heath from playing. When they were ot break through the back line of Dedicoat, Sanderson and Simpson were their to stop any futher attack.
Ponte Final score came from a great piece on skill from replacement 10 Liam Kay, putting through a great kick for Fawcett to race behind the defence and score, with another successful conversion. Pontefract were again dominant up front keeping possession, Heaths discipline again let them down and Watts threaded another penalty to make the score 30-18 to the home side. Pontefract kept the ball and saw out the rest of time game to make he final score 30-18 to keep them in 4th place on 19 points.
The forwards dominated their opponents, with superb lineouts gave the back line plenty of attacking ball to attack. The team defence was wuality in equal measure. Lets hope the fixture next week against Heath in the Yorkshire Cup will be equally as entertaining.