Coming off a six match winning streak Pontefract travelled to Moortown looking to consolidate their second position in the Yorkshire Merit Championship and also lay a six year losing bogey at Moortown.
From the off strong runs by Luke Townend , Conor Gowdy and Josh Beddis soon had Moortown on the back foot and pinned in their own 22 metre area. After 10 minutes Pontefract forced a line out penalty on the 22 and Beddis broke to the centre field from the ruck Alfie Abbott spotted that Kai Sharp was unmarked on the left wing and a long pass allowed him to force his way over in the corner. Abbott added the touch line conversion putting Pontefract 7 points up.
Continued pressure forced Moortown to concede a string of penalties and Abbott punished them with some sure touch finders that kept pushing them back into their own 22 area. After a period of pressure and with a Pontefract player in the sin bin for a clash of heads Abbott decided on taking a 35 metre penalty kick which sailed through the middle of the posts , taking the team to a clear 10 points in front.
Another clash of heads resulted in Pontefract having two players off the pitch. Moortown upped the tempo but great defence from the whole Ponte team held them out with Jamie Jex well to the fore. Pressure finally told and from a line out the Moortown number 8 forced his way over in the corner . The try was not converted score 5 – 10 to Pontefract,
Another penalty for obstruction allowed Abbot to slot another long range penalty to take score to 5 -13 . Just before half time the Moortown left wing pounced on a lose ball from a ruck and made a telling break down the touch line. Quick hands from the opposition stand off sent the ball right allowing the right wing to score, again their was no conversion score now 10 – 13 . Not to be outdone Pontefract immediately forced their way back into Moortown territory and from a catch and drive from a lineout the Pontefract pack showed good control of a rolling maul for Toby Ludwig to dive over to make the score 10 – 20 at the break.
Pontefract started the second half much like the first . Six minutes in Cameron Burgess drove to the line from after Pontefract took a Moortown line out crossing near the posts making it an easy kick for Abbott 10 – 27 up. Moortown then had a twenty minute purple spell and their backs threatened a number of times the Moortown stand off proving a great handful . Again Pontefract’s defensive pressure ensured many a mistake . After 30 minutes Pontefract’s pack again drove into the Moortown half , quick ball from improving scrum half Tom Greensmith kept them on the front foot and after a number of the pack went close skipper Scott Hawkins dived under a pile if Moortown legs to touch down , Abbott duly added the extras , 10 – 34.
Moortown backs continued to pressure and their young live wire scrum half was always looking for an opportunity and from a quick tap from an offside penalty he scurried over under the posts for a converted try. 17- 34.
In the dying minutes Pontefract put together a great passing movement which was stopped illegally . Abbott kicked for the corner and from the resulting line out the pack again drove to the line for live wire Josh Beddis to emerge claiming the touch down . From out wide Abbott’s kick bounced off the posts his only miss of the day . Final score 17-39 to Pontefract.
The win puts them joint top in the league with Selby who have a game in hand.
To cap a successful weekend for the club there were some excellent results in the age grade section too - congratulations to the U14's and U13's who have both progressed in their Yorkshire Cup competitions by beating Otley and Ilkley respectively. The Colts also had a fine win against Wheatley Hills and now top the table.
Match Report by Charlie Chester. Unfortunately we had no photographer at Moortown, so we have used a library photo of Alfie Abbot from his recent outing against Brods.