Patched up Pontefract gave a wholehearted performance to come away with a well deserved bonus point victory at high flying Goole. Due to the late rearrangement of the fixture, several players were unavailable and with the seemingly never ending injury list showing no signs of easing, Ponte’s resources were stretched to the limit.

Ponte had two players on debut. Full back Tom Carr who was a threat every time he got the ball, and replacement prop Gareth Dyas who did everything asked of him when called upon.

Ponte also plucked two players from the veteran side in Richard Scott and Piggy Smith, with the latter remarkably playing a full eighty minutes at hooker in a completely dominant front five that set the platform for victory.

Ponte scored the first points of the game with a penalty from Liam Kaye, who, on the day was unusually off form with his place kicking. With the referee missing the fact the restart did not go ten metres, Goole soon scored an unconverted try, after good handling, leaving Ponte trailing 5-3.

Ponte soon replied when good handling in the backs led to Richard Hossack scoring a converted try. This was cancelled out with another Goole try to leave Ponte trailing 12-8 . With half time approaching Ponte again took the lead as Hossack chipped over for Carr to score an unconverted try.

The second half started badly for Ponte as the Goole forwards forced a try from close range. Ponte replied immediately though, as a Carr break led to Craig Fawcett scoring a fine converted try.

Although Ponte did in general tackle well, there were lapses, with instances of players grabbing at their opponents instead of the tried and tested method of shoulder first. Never was it more evident when Ponte allowed a Goole forward to run through many would be tacklers before running through the full back for a converted try under the posts. This brought the score to 24- 20 to Goole and with time running out it looked like a losing bonus point was all Ponte would muster.

It was not to be however, and the response could well be a turning point in the season. With the forwards becoming even more dominant, a break from Scott lead to burly prop Josh Hough scoring a trademark pick and drive try from three yards out with many Goole defenders clinging on to him.

Goole threw the kitchen sink at Ponte in a frantic finale. With the game overrunning by eight minutes, Ponte managed a turnover which was soon followed by the refs whistle. The players rightly celebrated a tremendous victory which should give them confidence for the rest of the season.

There is no doubt that this victory was in no small part down to the front foot ball provided by the pack in which Hough and James Griffin were immense. This platform allowed runners such as Stephen Reynolds, Sam Millard, Niall Sandwith and Tad Nyanjowa to regularly break the game line, as well as provide scrum half Glen Boyd and fly half Liam Kaye with extra time to successfully manage the game.

One downside to the victory was injuries to key players Chris Sant and Sam Millard, which hopefully aren’t serious.