Pontefract withstand Moortown barrage to seal thrilling win
Pontefract ended previous leaders Moortown’s unbeaten start to the Regional Two North East season on Saturday when the teams produced one of the most topsy-turvy games ever witnessed at the Moor Lane ground.
For the best part of an hour, Ponte played some scintillating rugby and raced into a 32-0 lead but the visitors staged an unlikely fightback.
The hosts were rattled but they did just enough to seal a 32-27 victory.
After last week’s woes in the set piece, the Ponte scrum was solid and the introduction of specialist line-out jumper Brodie Matthews enabled a solid base for Ponte’s quicksilver backs.
The first try was from centre Sam Gilbert as he glided through a massive gap 20 metres out.
After that, Moortown threatened in attack but Ponte added to their lead with a penalty from the halfway line from Liam Kay.
That lead was soon extended when, after great drives from Sam Millard and Tad Nyanjowa, the mercurial Tom Papworth got over the line when he had no right to.
Ponte were now playing brilliant rugby and after a great run from Lucas Ketteridge, Ethan Potts got on the end of a catch and drive line-out to take the score to 22-0 at the break.
Straight from the kick-off Ponte threw the ball wide and a fortuitous bounce from a Kaye crossfield kick, allowed Ketteridge to score, as Moortown looked stunned.
The battering continued as Nyanjowa scored another from a line out. This was soon after losing Papworth to a serious looking leg injury.
At 32-0 up, the Ponte faithful were opening the champagne and lighting the cigars but Moortown hadn’t read the script.
A lax scrum and missed tackles allowed Town to grab their first score.
This signalled a momentum shift which Ponte couldn’t reverse and showed why the visitors were unbeaten thus far.
Ponte’s watertight defence was suddenly vulnerable as Town scored three more tries in quick succession.
However, Pontefract dug in and managed to see the game out for a deserved victory.
Best for Ponte up front was Potts, Millard and Nyanjowa with Metcalfe and Papworth shining in the backs.
It was great to see the Ponte youngsters flourishing, with Alfie Abbott and Alex Wilson catching the eye alongside Josh Sundin and Ethan Grant.
The fixtures don’t get any easier for Pontefract, with a trip to highly rated Morley this Saturday.