Bridlington 5 - Pontefract 10

BRIDLINGTON 5 PONTEFRACT 10

Pontefract collected their first win of the season in what is a traditionally difficult fixture, against a team harbouring promotion ambitions after relegation from north east one last year. The return of Glen Boyd at fly half gave the team much more composure to add to the tremendous defence and team spirit that has been built up by coach Craig Fawcett.

Ponte played against the elements in the first half, with the opposition been able to use the wind to gain good territorial positions, as opposed to Ponte who had to work hard for every inch of progress. Despite this advantage, it was credit to the Ponte defence that Brid never looked like getting over the try line despite numerous five metre scrums and line outs.

To go in at half time with a five nil lead was a major boost, it came as Ponte sensibly took a scrum from a penalty ten metres out. The scrum was solid all day but, with prop Tyler Smith completely dominating his opposite number, a wheel of the scrum allowed Gaz Burns and Richard Dedicoat to create an overlap down the blindside and put winger Stuart Sanderson in for a try, too wide out for him to convert into the wind.

The second half should have been easier for Ponte, but a few mistakes and good opposition play kept the game in the balance. Ponte came close as lightning breaks from Fawcett, Sanderson and Andy Coleman coming to nothing. Pontes defence went up a notch with the introduction of Chris Sant who missed the whole of last season. The sight of him and fellow flanker Tad Nyanjowa tackling everything that moved was a great positive.

With twenty minutes to go Ponte got the breathing space they needed as the bounce of the ball from a long, high kick from Boyd created havoc and fell into the hands of winger Richard Hossack who ran thirty metres to score. It was a just reward for the young winger who had his best game to date in first team colours.

With the clock ticking down Brid brought the result into question with a try from a quick tap, for once, catching the Ponte defence half asleep. They failed to convert and never again looked like adding to their tally as Ponte kept the ball tight and saw the game out. This was pleasing to see as Ponte have lost similar close games in recent memory by been too expansive with the game in the bag. Ponte nearly grabbed a last second try as Boyd had the ball knocked out of his hands with the line begging.

In a good team performance, best forwards for Ponte on the day was Burns, who was at his marauding best, and Ethan Potts, who deputised well at hooker both in the tight and the loose. In the backs coach Fawcett was always dangerous along with the evergreen Boyd.