Pontefract have had a plethora of away games at the start of the season so it was good to get some home comforts, as a good crowd turned up to see a cracking game of competitive rugby. Ponte looked good early on, but a couple of early Malton tries stunned the home side into silence.

Luckily, neither were converted and Ponte replied in style. Pacy duo Josh Milthorpe and Sam Gilbert combined superbly from inside their own half with the latter getting hauled down just short of the line. From the resulting scrum, and with prop Stevie Anderson back in the fold, the dynamic front five put the squeeze on their opposites, with a pushover try for Sean Simpson, converted by Kay. For the rest of the half, with Kay and Will Cooke pulling the strings Ponte played some flowing rugby with Malton doing well to hold out with a player down due to a yellow card.

Ponte kept the momentum going in the second half despite a long delay for a worrying looking neck injury for highly rated young prop Tom Webley which thankfully turned out to be not too serious. When play resumed Kay put Ponte ahead with two long distance penalties as Malton infringed at the breakdown.

The lead was short lived as Ponte’s usual excellent defence disappeared and they conceded a long range, converted try from the visitor’s elusive young centre. Ponte then piled on the pressure and soon regained the lead, as Ethan Potts, who led from the front all day, scored a rare try from a catch and drive at the lineout, which Kay converted. There were no more dramas as Ponte sealed the game with a penalty try from the scrum as Malton collected another yellow card.

Man of the match for Ponte was centre Andy Coleman, who continued his excellent start to the season. Not far behind was Kay and Harry Woolastan in the backs, whilst up front Brodie Matthews, Tyler Smith and Tad Nyanjowa stood out in a team effort. Special mention and congratulations to Bailley Matthews who had a fine game just hours after welcoming a new daughter Billie into the world.

Ponte fielded three senior teams this weekend. The Vets went down to a good Huddersfield A Team on Friday evening, and the 2nds lost in a good game to Malton & Norton. Its great to see senior rugby flourishing at the club.