Pontefract 8 Rochdale 13
On a bright sunny day at Moor Lane Pontefract, Dale knew a win would all but secure the league title – in the meantime a hard fight would need to be won first against a strong Ponte side who took the points earlier in the season at Moorgate Ave.
With Declan Connor back in the 2nd row but still missing Steve Collins, Dale had a strong side to face a big Ponte pack and some good backs. The early play was even with both sides attacking, Dale defended well as usual and had an early break by Tom Hesketh, only halted on the try line causing a drop out cleared deep into the Dale half but straight to Captain Josh Schofield who launched his own kick past halfway.
Ponte had good passing moves let down by bad handling. A forward pass ended one such move and a scrum to Dale but it was from a penalty awarded by the referee that the home side got the first try passing wide and breaking the line to score, the conversion attempt hitting the upright so 5-0 after 10 minutes all action rugby. Dale continued to attack and kept getting the wrong side of the ref penalties but no cards this time. Tom Hesketh was stopped on the Ponte 22, the scrum went to the home side then just inside their own half Dale were again penalized. The Ponte fly half going for goal from 35m and kicking the points to make it 8-0. Minutes later another kickable penalty went just wide all the pressure was on the visitors but as usual, and despite all decisions seeming to go against them solid defence kept the score the same until after a couple of good scrums, with replacement prop Dougie Poole adding his weight, Dale were on the Ponte 22 scrum half Danny Joesbury chipped over the home defence and Josh Schofield darted through to score under the posts, up stepped Matty Johnston to take the simple kick but the tallest man on the pitch Andy Lund decided to leap up and knocked the kick off course 8-5.
Half time saw some Dale changes with Ben Coulter, Jonny Bradley and Jacob Jackson for an injured Declan Connor. Dale were soon on the attack with Ethan Poole battering his way through to the Ponte 22 and then Joesbury won another scrum to leave Dale on the home sides 10m line. A penalty to Dale for offside and the conversion left the scores level at 8-8. Ponte had several good chances as scrums and free kicks saw them camped inside the Dale 5 metre zone and only desperate defending kept their big forwards from going over the line. Harry Hill was back on and adding his strong tackling and forward runs to the Dale effort as fly half Johnston saw his run stopped just short of the line.
A rare penalty for Dale, Johnston was unlucky to see his effort from 25m drift just wide. All Ponte efforts were snuffed out by brave Dale defence with Chris Hodgkinson dominating the line out supported by Ben Sunderland and Harry Hayes. The visitors begun to get chances of their own with Joe Horne and Cliff Howard both having great runs from the backs, it was however another break by play maker Johnston that reached the 5-metre line and a nice inside pass let the always try hungry wing forward Harry Hayes in for a cracking try. Again, the luckless Johnston saw his conversion drift just wide so 8-13. With 5 minutes left Ponte put the pressure on and with the help of a series of penalties were soon back in the Dale 22 and the line began to look closer Dale defended to the end and when Ponte decided not to kick in front of the posts the scrum was held on the line and then a knock on ended their last effort and the ref finally blew the whistle for full time.
The Dale players and staff were in raptures and the Fizz came out under posts knowing that although Scarborough could end level on points, our 200 plus points difference should see us out of sight, even if we are to not pick any points from our last 2 games.
This was a great game of end to end rugby, Ponte are a good side but Dale were stronger in defence. Two games left now 22nd March at home to Bradford Salem and the last at Malton and Norton on 5th of April both 3pm kick offs.
David Rhodes R.R.U.F.C.