Ponteland RFC

It was a case of a "job well done" on Saturday when Ponteland achieved their objective of 2 points against their top of their league rivals Acklam.

In a game that, because of various reasons (some of what will not be printed here!), never really flowed like a top of the table game should, Ponteland showed their grit and capability to overcome a strong, fired up Acklam side.

The game puts Ponteland into second place in the league with 3 games in hand (see table below) and the lads are now faced with the challenge of overcoming some potential fixture hurdles and building on recent impressive results.

Finally, on behalf of the players, I'd like to thank the home support on Saturday which was excellent. Special thanks also go to Chappell, Tetsie, Mal, Wacka and Tony for helping make the pitches playable - roll on the sunshine and some harder pitches!

Match report by John Chappell:

Ponteland 9 Acklam 3

Ponteland took on Acklam at home looking to avenge their only League defeat this season.

The day started at 10am with Chappell, Tetz, Mal Jeffrey and Tony Murphy shovelling a tonne of sand onto the 1^st team pitch to make it playable. On arrival Acklam decided they didn’t like the look of the pitch so the game was moved onto pitch 3 with the 2nds gleefully taking the better pitch 1 to defeat Ashington 2nds.

Both Jack Storey and Jonny Murphy pulled up injured in the warm up so Will McGawley and Will Chilton were drafted in from the 2nds at short notice.

Pont kicked off and Acklam caught the ball and immediately drove Pont back 30 metres. From the next play Ponteland’s scrum were driven back and a penalty awarded to Acklam. The visitors kicked to the corner and thankfully Pont stole the lineout to ease the pressure. The next 20 minutes saw Pont defend ferociously as Acklam battered away. Everyone put their bodies on the line, none more so than Dan Walton who smashed their no 8 backwards as he came on a run.

Another attack out wide saw the winger kick thro but skipper Dan Harrison was on hand to take the ball on the line. He was immediately hit by an Acklam player who proceeded to punch Dan. In good old forward’s style Dan hit him back only to be yellow carded by the ref. Acklam took the penalty and not for the first time put bodies over the ball only to find themselves rucked out and their hooker left the field injured.

As Acklam ran out of ideas Pont began to get a foothold on the game. Sniping runs by Angus White and big pick ups by no8 Michael Byrne saw Pont edge into Acklam’s half as Pont looked to recycle quick ball. Acklam infringed and Dan Walton stepped up to kick 3 points.

The last 10 minutes of the half saw Pont stretching the visitors defence and a further penalty was pulled short by Walton.

Half time 3-0

Acklam came out of the blocks from the kick off and a pick and drive took them to Ponts 22. An Acklam scrum saw them shunted backwards and their hooker stood up. Pont took the ball from the ensuing collapse only to find that they were penalised for not binding on the flank. Acklam converted to level 3-3.

Pont identified that Acklam’s wingers were dropping deep and therefore looked to move the ball wide early. Several attacks successfully pulled them wide only for a pass to go astray. Changes saw Kyle Norris, Rob Laverick and Jonny LE enter the fray. A dominant push in the scrum led to a lineout 15 metres out. A catch and drive eventually saw McGookin dive for the line only to be held up by a desperate defence.

Pont were now becoming the dominant force and Acklam began to give penalties away and on 20 mins Walton kicked a further 3 points  6-3

With Craig Robinson plundering possession and Moses and Turnbull turning the screw in the centres Pont began to look the better team for a win. A further Walton penalty saw them move into a 9-3 lead with 10 minutes to go. Acklam, seeing the clock running down, launched several desperate attempts to run wide and put their wingers in, only to find Chilton and McGawley standing firm.

Pont saw the game out on the visitors 22 and the whole side can look back with pride as their defence stood tall and prevented a dangerous visiting team gaining a foothold in the match.

Man of the match: Dan Walton - some brave tackles and some accurate kicking played its part in a deserved victory.

Dick(s) of the day: It has to be the "flying winger" twosome of Jack Storey and Jonny Murphy - both managing to injure themselves on Saturday before a ball was kicked in anger!

This victory leaves Ponteland in 2^nd place on point’s difference with Acklam but with three games in hand: