PONTEFRACT 15 OLD CROSSLEYANS 15

PONTEFRACT 15 OLD CROSSLEYANS 15

Pontefract’s hopes of winning the league took a hammer blow as a mixture of poor finishing and ill discipline contributed to a draw in a game that should really have been wrapped up at half time. In front of the biggest crowd of the season at Moor Lane it was the visitors who applied the early pressure and in turn converted a penalty to take an early lead. From the rest of the half Ponte took control.

Playing some great rugby against the best defence in the league, only the numerous penalties relieved the pressure on the visitor’s line. Ponte did soon break the deadlock however, to score the first try of the day, as a fortunate ricochet allowed Liam Kay to go under the posts, which he converted for a four-point lead.

By now it was all Ponte as Crocs struggled with the power of the Ponte forwards. A scrum yellow for Crocs allowed even more pressure and Ponte shrugged off missing a gilt-edged chance out wide to put dynamic second row, Brodie Matthews, over the line for an unconverted try.

Ponte were soon on the attack again and Ponte blew another glorious chance after an interception by impressive centre Andy Coleman was worked out wide. Crocs hit the post with a long-range penalty as the half time whistle blew with Ponte feeling very confident for the second period.

There is a reason Crocs are top of the league and second half they showed the grit and determination you would expect. The crowd were bemused as Ponte were given a stream of yellow cards, leaving them down to twelve men at one point. Unsurprisingly the pressure told despite Ponte bombing another golden opportunity, the Crocs prolific centre went over for a converted try. Despite the lack of numbers in the scrum man of the match Josh Hough had his opponent bent double and a resultant, rare penalty allowed Kay to extend the lead to fifteen to ten.

It was Crocs who scored next as a run of penalties allowed them near to the Ponte line for a pick and drive try despite claims it wasn’t grounded. Luckily, the Crocs kicker had a Don Fox moment and missed the conversion from in front of the posts to leave the score level. There was to be no more scores, but Ponte battered the Crocs line with another bombed chance and a Kay drop goal hitting the post full on.