First loss of the season for Ponte

The first game of the season got under way at a wet Moor road, for Pontefract first game of the season against Wath. Ponte were hoping for a strong start to the season after defeating Ripon at home in the cup the week before.

Straight from the kick off both teams were clearly excited and ready to play league rugby after 3 months off. Ponte piled on the pressure from the start, with a series of strong forward phases from Matt Williams and James Griffin. Form these drives a penalty was awarded and a kick into the corner put Ponte in position A. Winning the lineout Ponte put a series of Strong phases together with all forwards putting in the effort, which eventually led to a try in the first 5 mins after Matty Williams powered his way over the line for the first try of the game, to make it 0-5. After the Kick off went straight out of touch, Ponte won the scrum and a kick chase for Jordan Gill gave the full back no choice but to kick to touch. An injury to Gill saw him have an early bath and Ross Shand mad ehis first appearance of the season on the wing.

Waths forwards hit back but again Ponte got into Waths 5m and a great tackle from Andy Fradgley, put ponte in attacking position again. from forward pressure and a series of strong forwards runs Matty Williams was held up on the line. Again forward pressure led to a penalty, which Andy Dean kicked to make it 0-8 after 15 mins. Wath then picked up momentum and a relaxed period form ponte allowed Wath the put some pressure on from their big pack. Some great tackling form Back row Joe perkins and Jonny burrows kept Wath at bay. However a series of rooks resulted in a corner try for Wath with them missing the conversion to make it 5-8. Straight form the kick pressure from ponte caused problems and an offside penalty gave Andy Dean another chance to add more points which he did with another 3 points, to make it 5-11. A solid first half for ponte with number 10 Glen Boyd placing some excellent kicks for poisiton and ponte forwards coping well with Wath’s big pack.

Second half started well again for Ponte piling on pressure up front but unable to get over the gain line due to some excellent Wath defence. Ponte then switched off allowing Wath to get back in the game, making most of the slight downhill and their big pack, after Ponte survived a series of scrums on their 5M, but Wath went on to walk over for their second try and converted to make it 12-11. Some more great work from back line of Jonny Burrows and Joe Perkins, Matty Williams, kept Wath at bay. Then Chris Maxi received a yellow, and Wath took advantage and ran in another try and conversion to make it 19-11. Wath strong forward running from front and second rows, resulted in another 2 tries making the score 29-11. When a scrum turned nasty Pontes prop Chris Maxi, ended up being the only one sent off, leaving Ponte with 14 men for the remaining 15 mins. This rejuvenated Ponte and a few fresh legs on the pitch gave Ponte a good positon on the bottom of the field, which resulted in Ross Shand going over the line in a fantastic move, enabling the winger to cut a great line to score, which Andy Dean Converted making it 29-18. Straight form the kick off Ponte put pressure on Wath and turned over the ball to keep precession in Waths half, resulting in another backs move with great hands from Glen Boyd and Craig Fawcett to put in Andy Dean for his first try of the season. Andy Dean converted his own try to make it 29-25 with only 5 mins left. However Wath managed to hold out and managed to get the first win of the season, with Ponte picking up a bonus point. Lapse of concentration in the second half lost the game but many positives were the come from the game, such as debutants back row Jonny Burrows and young winger Harry McAllister.

Jonny Burrows received man of the match, but stand out performances from Matt Williams, Joe Perkins, Richard Scott and Glen Boyd.