Ponteland RFC

Apologies for the late reports but the 2^nd team have won both of their league games since the big freeze began before xmas.

16/01 a team pulled together at the 11^th hour to play Blyth away on a freezing beach ran out victorious by a margin of 29-0. No match report available.

23/01 a strong team was pushed right until the last kick of the game to secure another win away against Percy Park Puma’s, Final Score 21-19.  

In a very even match that could have gone either way several Ponteland players appeared to be still rusty after the enforced mid season break. Ponteland went down by 2 tries early in the game and despite creating some good breaks and a try scored by the telescopic arms and strength of Paul Young; we were deservedly behind at half time 14-7.

The pattern was revised after half time to focus more on attacking close to the fringes with pick and goes, and this resulted in some good phases being put together. Eventually the gaps started to appear in the opposition defence and Ponteland scored again through M Byrne following on from some good off loads out of the tackle. Will McGawley stepped up to the plate and slotted another fine conversion and Ponteland drew level at 14 points a piece.

 

Percy Park did not give up and found themselves awarded a penalty just out of the Ponteland 22. Joe Laser stupidly held onto the ball and the ref rightly gave another 10 yards. Intending to make a mends, JL charged up and clattered into there strong running second row only to come off far worse. A scrum followed and whilst still dazed JL gave away another penalty inside Pont’s 22 having killed the ball. DoD for not the first time this season – retirement is beckoning me thinks? An inevitable try followed and shortly after the skipper was pulled off to the bench. Conversion thankfully missed. Score 14-19 to Park.

The character of Ponteland then shone through. This would be a match in the previous season that might go begging but Ponteland dug deep and surged forward. Who else would break the deadlock but Rick Younger? The ball came to him and although there was men outside he elected (knowing that the conversion was needed I am sure) to charge straight over and through 3 or 4 tacklers to score within shooting range for Will. In what turned out to be the deciding points Will made no mistake and slotted the conversion.

The last few minutes were very tense with Park having the opportunity to win the game with a long range penalty which fortunately went wide. This takes Pont 2’s league 2B tally to 8 wins, 1 abandoned and 1 loss. With a succession of home games on the horizon and the same fixture versus Percy Park in the cup on 20^th Feb there is still a lot to play for at this point in the season.

Try Scorers:

M Byrne

P Young

R Younger

 

Cons:

W McGawley (3 off)

 

Man Of the Match: Ross Scott.

 

Dick Of The Day: Joe Laser

Next game, League fixture Saturday 30^th January at home versus Gateshead 3’s