PICTURE GALLERY: Pontefract pay for indiscipline in tough loss at Pocklington

The failure to accept perceived injustices made things worse, as a game that was there for the taking was made impossible as the penalty count rose and Ponte went down 33-23.

A great cover tackle from Will Dagger stopped a certain try for Pocklington early on, but they opened the scoring soon after with a penalty.

Ponte responded well as prop Tom Webley got on the end of a superb offload from hooker Ethan Potts after a good break from Andy Coleman. Liam Kay converted for a 7-3 lead.

The penalties then began to flow as Pock scored from a catch and drive. The visitors had a chance to reply in kind but a hard-earned scrum penalty resulted in a missed kick into the corner.

Pock extended their lead with a try out wide as a yellow card for impressive back rower Tad Nyanjowa made life difficult for the visitors.

Things got worse as the home team added a penalty, but the character and fight of the Ponte side showed as they scored a try, with crisp hands putting Josh Milthorpe in at the corner for a six points deficit at half-time.

Penalties were exchanged soon after the restart and following another yellow card the hosts increased their lead with a well taken try out wide.

Ponte replied straight away as a quickly taken restart allowed Andy Coleman to sell an outrageous dummy and dive over for an individual effort. The conversion was missed but Kay put over a penalty soon after for a three-points game going into the final quarter.

It was not to be for Ponte as frustrations over seemingly harsh decisions got the better of them, including a straight red for winger Lucas Ketteridge for a tip tackle that looked more careless than dangerous.

Pock scored from a catch and drive to send Ponte home empty handed and a feeling of what could have been.

There were positives, with a strong set piece and good attacking rugby when allowed. Game management, tackle technique and calmer heads need to be addressed in the future as hassling the man in the middle never pays dividends.

It is a rest week next Saturday before Ponte host old rivals Cleckheaton the week after.