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Second XV Match Reports 2nd team momentum is proving hard to stop with win over Consett 2’s
Second XV Match Reports 2nd team momentum is proving hard to stop with win over Consett 2’s
2nd team momentum is proving hard to stop with win over Consett 2’s
The 2nd XV clocked league win number 9 by a margin of 22-3 against a Consett 2nd team.
After a poor start to the game where Ponteland failed to control the ball or their discipline, Consett took the early advantage with a penalty and missed another opportunity to take a 0-6 lead. However, after a strong defensive display it always seemed unlikely that Consett would score tries and after sustaining a lot of pressure the score stayed at 0-3.
It is a reflection of the territory and the lack of possession that Pont’s first points came from a tricky box kick that landed behind the full back that was then chased well by kicker Peter Maughan, ably supported by Jonny Kulik and debutant Matt Walters. The pressure on Consett, combined with some tricky conditions under foot, led to a miss kick by the full back that was great fully gathered in by matt with 40 yards to accelerate to the line, leaving a distraught full back in his wake. Score 5-3.
In a bizarre turn of events the 2nd team was chased off a very sodden heavy 3rd team pitch by the 1st team who were also playing at home. Having already moved pitches once, Houghton trying to avoid a stuffing from in form Pont 1’s by moving pitch again! This did not affect the 2nd team. The ref sensibly called half time to coincide with the movement and the match continued on the Pont training pitch.
Despite the new pitch having less grass, the ground was firmer and running faster, which suited Ponteland just fine. Against a tiring Consett team who were in fairness justifiably lacking in match fitness due to the sustained run of cancelled games, there was only ever going to be 1 winner in the second half dominated by half breaks and half chances created by Ponteland. In fairness 3 tries only tells half the story, if more clinical it could have been a lot more in what turned out to be a good win.
One try for fly-half Paul Young (making that 2 in 2 weeks) after a well worked counter attack from the backs. And 2 tries for come back king Ross Dias who looked in a good touch to step through the middle for his first and snipe up the blind side for his second. Another try that was disallowed by the ref for Rick Younger would have made a score line more in keeping with the teams dominant display.
Try Scorers:
M Walters
P Young
R Dias (2 off)
Conversion
W Mcgawley (1 off)
MoM:
Mark (HOM) for demolishing with a little help from his friends the Consett scrum.
DoD: The whole of Houghton 1’s squad who should either be willing to play rugby in some mud, otherwise no one would ever complete a fixture calendar.
Next fixture is against Wallsend Warriors at home in what is likely to be a double header worth 4 points on 13th February.
