Moortown 22 - 15 Pontefract

Moortown 22 - 15 Pontefract

Pontefract showed great character against a organised and robust Moortown who managed to hang on for a deserved victory. With the usual last minute changes Pontefract started surprisingly well playing some enterprising rugby from the kick off. The hosts and referees feathers were ruffled by the childish attics of one particular player who let himself and his team mates down badly, resulting in a string of penalties that allowed Moortown to lay siege to the Pontefract line. The team rallied and repelled the threat with some gutsy defence lead by Steamer, Hough and Deddicote. Once the storm was weathered the pack began to rumble its way upfield, the effort was rewarded when Captain Scott crashed over after some great forward play orchestrated by the imperial Christian who added a new dimension to inexperienced pack. 0 - 5
The game developed into an arm wrestle with the larger home side testing the Pontefract defence who stuck manfully to the task with Rasher, Pycock and Wiggy containing a lively hosts back line. The line was finally breached with a hotly contested score that put Moortown into the lead 7-5.
The score urged the hosts into action pressing forward with their abrasive style that really stretched the combative qualities of all the visitors who stood firm making it very entertaining and enthralling contest. With make shift half backs Pontefract were finding it difficult to play their usual flamboyant style as the aggressive home ‘rush’ defence limited attacking opportunities and forced a loose pass that was intercepted by the home sides flying winger who sprinted 75m to stretch the lead to 12-5 at the interval.
A fair reflection of a competitive first period.
The hosts started quickly with some very direct rugby that forced some outstanding cover defence from youngster Ben Walker and Sam Pycock who was reluctantly pressed into the full back position where he added to his growing reputation. From a wayward clearance kick the Moortown winger scorched over for his second score skilfully planting the ball over the line as the desperate cover defence demolished the corner flag. 17-5
Pontefract reorganised and stuck to a simpler plan that soon put them back in the game through a series of forward drives that forced them over the whitewash only for vetran Bennet to be adjudged to be held up. Inspired by this the forwards played it tight and direct causing the home side all sorts of problems that finally reaped its reward when Stu Deddicote emerged from under a pile of bodies to cut the arrears to 17-10
The forward effort put Pontefract in the ascendancy forcing Moortown to absorb the mounting pressure and restrict them to their own 22m for long periods. The hosts backs still pressed the disjointed Pontefract back line aggressively and forced another interception that was dealt with by the combination of Walker and Pycock who scrambled brilliantly to deny the score. However, from the resulting line out a clever move exposed the young packs naively to extend their lead to 22-10 against the run of play but excellently executed.
There was only one way forward for Pontefract and that continued until Captain Scott claimed his second try after a bullish line out drive 22-15. With 10 minutes remaining everything, including the proverbial kitchen sink, was thrown at Moortown who used every trick in the book to prevent a further Pontefract score. The ‘old-heads’ managed the official and the game to cling onto a hard fought victory.
The madness of the first 10 minutes cost Pontefract dearly and cannot be allowed to happen again, however, it was a cracking game, full of action, controversy and drama with all players totally committed.