Ponteland RFC

Ponteland recorded another 2 league points and some more important points difference when they overcame Winlaton Vulcans. Whilst the scoreline may look like an overpowering win for the visitors, things were rarely straightforward.

Some of this can be attributed to Winlaton, who showed a good enough performance to suggest they shouldn't be struggling in the league, and the rest can be blamed sorely at the feet of the team who took 10 minutes and 2 penalties to wake up and realise that they were in a game.

The rugby which then followed was fluent, fast and devastating at times - the challenge is for the lads to ensure this is the case for their final 7 games, starting with a potentially tricky game at home to Whitley Bay on Saturday.

In other Ponteland news - a huge congratulations to the 2nd team who registered a semi-final cup win against Medicals. Watch this space for details of the final!

AFTER THE LORD’S MAYORS SHOW

Match report by John Chappell:

Winlaton Vulcans 16 Ponteland 53

Fresh from defeating rivals at the top of the League Pont arrived to play Winlaton at the bottom. With Graeme Turnbull detained at work, Will McGawley started at centre as Pont had a bench of two.

From the kick off it was Winlaton who looked the better side as they drove into the opposition with relish. In common with International referees, the inability to ref the breakdown has been a common feature this season and this game was to prove no different. With the home side putting their big runners into action Pont found themselves 6-0 down as Fly half Allison hit two sweetly struck penalties. After 10 minutes McGawley left the field with a badly dislocated finger with McGookin coming in on the wing, Newbigin to centre and Will Chiltern to fullback.

With Winlaton’s dependence on very large players the avenue that Pont needed to take was to run them around the pitch but no-one appeared to have told the players as they continued to struggle to put a mark on the game.

After 15 minutes Remi Moses took the game by the scruff of the neck and with two lovely breaks completed the move by scoring out wide. From the kick off Pont ran wide and then the forwards drove over with   Byrne scoring.   6-10

Pont continued to create openings as the strike runners cut Winlaton’s backs to shreds, only for Robinson and Newbigin to be greedy and not use the support runners to score. A sweeping move saw Craig Robinson crash under the posts with Walton converting.

Ponteland’s backs were now in the driving seat and a further passage of play out wide saw Newbigin scream over in the corner.

Winlaton got the last score as Allison again kicked a fine penalty.

Half time: 9 – 22

Ponteland’s team talk pointed out the need to offload early and within minutes of the kick off Newbigin burst thro and an excellent offload saw Chiltern stroll in unopposed. Walton again converted.

The forwards came next as a counter ruck forced the ball loose and several players kicked on with Byrne getting the touchdown. 9-34

The game was now becoming one way traffic as another flowing move saw Jonny LE hit the strike runner channel and run 20 metres to score. The score appeared to galvanise Winlaton who again resorted to using their big boys running short. Pont defended well but a big drive by the home side saw the scrum half Falkner scamper over out wide. Again Winlaton’s fly half kicked an excellent conversion to make it 16-39.

Winlaton attacked again from the kick off and a passing move on Pont’s 22 saw the ball go to ground. Mark McGookin swept the ball up and crashed thro two tacklers and set off up field. A hand off and a burst of pace saw him outstrip the home team, with only the fullback to beat. Gooks cut in left and as he ran away the fullback gave up the chase leaving Gooks on the 22 unopposed. With the line at his mercy and no players with 15 metres McGookin appeared to get a blow out in his left wellie as he stared to tumble. In Chariots of Fire style he rolled another 10 metres before falling over. With the crowd crying in laughter Dan Harrison had the foresight to trundle up, take the pass and score under the posts, Walton converting. 16-46

With 10 minutes to go Pont involved backs and forwards in passing moves with McGookin making up for his howler by getting the touchdown. Walton converted to make it  16 – 53.

Winlaton had won two out of their last three games and were not about to lay down and to their credit they again picked and drove towards the line and spent the last five minutes almost over the Pont line. Unfortunately they were against the tightest defence in the league and so they ended the game unable to add to their tally.

Whilst this was the 2^nd highest score leaked by Winlaton this season they never gave up and battled gamely to the end.

Pont paid the price of complacency in the first ten minutes and hopefully it will act as a reminder for the difficult games to follow.

Man of the match - Jack Storey – some blistering runs and trade mark  crunching tackles

Dick of the day – Mark McGookin for taking the sniper shot !

In other league news, Acklam and Medicals both registered 2 points, with Seaton Carew slipping up with a loss to Blyth: