Pontefract 64 Selby 0

Pontefract 64 Selby 0

For the final game of the season, another bumper crowd turned up to Moor lane to witness a superb Pontefract performance in a game that both teams had plenty to play for. Selby beat Ponte on the opening game of the season and many were predicting an end to Ponte’s unbeaten home record. Ponte have run up a few big scores this year, mainly on the back of a completely dominant scrum. On this occasion it was the running, offloading and backing up allied to fierce defence which won the day, all facets of the game the coaching staff excel at passing on to the players.

Ponte opened the scoring with less than thirty seconds on the clock as an evil bounce of the ball from the kick off fell Pontes way for powerhouse forward Sam Millard to continue his fine end of season form with the first try of his hat-trick.

For the next ten minutes the game was even with a brilliant tackle and turnover from full back Richard Dedicoat catching the eye. With scrum half Josh Walker pulling the strings, player coach Craig Fawcett had a try disallowed while Millard was only just short from a pushover scrum. It did not take long for the inevitable to happen as a flat pass from Liam Kay put Millard away who in turn put young speedster Ciaran Tucker under the posts. Prop Ethan Potts soon added another as he juggled his way over after a series of impressive pick and drives from the likes of Josh Hough and Brodie Matthews.

Selby heads were beginning to drop as Tucker produced a remarkable piece of skill. Another fortunate bounce from a clearance kick fell into his hands and he somehow offloaded to the oncoming Fawcett to streak under the posts. Selby kicked the ball straight out from the kick off and from the resultant scrum Millard got on the end of a pass from super impressive centre Andy Coleman for his second. By now everything Ponte touched turned to gold and Walker finished off the half with his first try to leave the half time score at thirty-four to nil.

With such a comfortable scoreline Ponte were playing sevens like rugby and their execution was remarkable with forwards and backs alike producing some fine handling. With the visitor’s defence all over the place Walker sniped over for his second followed by Millard completing his hatrick after more deft handling. A Kay interception try added to the Selby woes and with the last play of the game Fawcett went under the posts for his second try to trigger off deserved end of season celebrations.

Playing in an unaccustomed position of number eight, Millard was given the man of the match as he found what a privilege it is to pack down behind Pontes magnificent front five. Kay was not far behind as he rounded off a fine personal season. With results elsewhere going in Pontes favour it meant a fantastic second place finish with the exciting prospect of this young Ponte team competing at a higher level next season.