After narrowly missing out on points against top of the table Selby last week, Pontefract were hoping for better luck this week at second place Morley but unfortunately they took an understrength side to Scratcherd Lane.

Pontefract started brightly and got the first points on the board when Morley were caught off side and Alfie Abbott slotted the penalty kick , three points to Pontefract. However , after that, although they produced some good passages of play promising attacks came to nothing as passes failed to go to hand. This allowed the Morley back row to counter attack by punching up the middle of the field, their recycling of the ball at ruck and maul kept Pontefract on the back foot but their defence was resolute with Daz Smith and Tom Greensmith to the fore.

A penalty for off side allowed Morley to kick for the corner to keep the pressure on Pontefract and this finally told. Morley scored a converted try through their big number 8 from a drive from a line out 5 metres out . Score 7-3 . A forward drive from a ruck soon had Morley on the score board again score 14-3. Pontefract backs then put together a promising attack with Abbott and Chester linking well but possession was stripped at a maul which allowed Morley a to break away and score an unconverted try and the half time score 3-19 .

Pontefract were more than holding their own at scrum and lineout where Jowsey and Jamie Jex linked well but Pontefract were losing out at the breakdown and Morley rattled in three quick tries at the start of the second half taking the score out to 36-3.

Pontefract then hit a purple patch , Toby Ludwig crossed the Morley line but was held up on his back but soon after a penalty allowed Abbott to kick for the corner for a line out and Ludwig drove over from a rolling maul that was well marshalled by veteran scrum half Matty Hargreaves, Abbott added the extras 36-10. Pontefract had their tails up.Jamie Jex went close and good recycling allowed Fenton to drive over for a converted try 36-17. Cam Burgess was always a threat and a good passing along the backs allowed him to force his way over in the corner. Again the try was converted score 36-24. Pontefract kept up the pressure but the clock was against them and they could not add to the score.

Thank you to Charlie Chester for the match report and photo's