It was a cool and breezy day at Pontefract but good for rugby. Driffield selected from strength with only Calum Reilly still unfit.
However, Pontefract set about the game as though it was a cup final and soon had Driffield on the back foot. Driffield were giving away penalties and were not allowed to settle. The only respite that came during the early period were a couple of Kitching clearing kicks, otherwise it was all Pontefract.
It was noticeable that Ponty were dominating the forward battle and they were prepared to open out play to their speedy backs from all areas of the field.
This was demonstrated on 12 minutes, when from deep in their 22, Pontefract swung the ball left, flanker Townend joined in and sent left winger Spears in from some distance. The try was converted by fly half Dean. P 7 – D 0.
Ponty scrum half Hargreaves punished Driff when he took a penalty quickly and made ground. At a lineout in the Driff 22, a rolling maul was set up by No 8 Eaves who controlled the movement and over they went for an excellent forward try, but the conversion hit the post. P 12 – D 0.
Driffield continued to give penalties away and Dean converted one of these. Pontefract were controlling all facets of the game and Driffield were hardly able to gain possession and therefore play in the Ponty half. P 15 – D 0.
At last Driffield started to gain some territory and from a Ponty knock on, the scrum was won and the ball moved left. A clear overlap appeared but unfortunately Smith knocked on when a pass to wing McClarron would have produced a try. This was one of the very few chances that Driffield produced in the first half. On 35 minutes Ponty increased their lead, when full back Johnson made a good break to send in Spears for a very good handling try which Dean converted. P 22 – D 0 was the half time score.
Driffield now had a mountain to climb as they were now playing up the slope into the wind. Pontefract were playing the game in the Driffield half and always looked as though they would score more points. After considerable forward pressure, marshalled by Eaves, this they did via right wing Dedicoat and Dean converted with an excellent kick from the touchline. P 29 – D 0.
It was all one way traffic, with Ponty flanker Townend popping up consistently in the backs and creating havoc with his speed and determined running, backed up by fast colleagues who at times were allowed to run when they should have been tackled. After another lineout, a maul was formed and No 8 Eaves was over the try line again for Dean to convert well. P 36 – D 0.
By this time, Cooper had come on for Harrison and Saddler for Smith, with Kitching going to full back and Saddler in the centre. Things got worse when McClarron was yellow carded for a high tackle. Pettinger replaced Whitfield as hooker, but the constant Pontefract pressure did not cease.
Pontefract scored one more good try via centre Bacon, after a good break by fullback Johnson, Dean again converting. P 43 – D 0.
At long last Driffield managed to attack into the opposition 22 and a Ponty player was yellow carded. From the ensuing penalty young Pettinger was able to drive over the line for a try and Kitching converted. It hardly mattered, the final whistle went and Driffield had been thoroughly beaten by a Pontefract side that were superior in all aspects of the game. Final score P 43 – D 7.
What can be said other than Driffield were never in this game. Pontefract were well marshalled by Eaves, who took a rest near the end of the game and one felt that if he had stayed on Driffield would have ended with 0.
Outstanding for Ponty were their pack spearheaded by Eaves and Townend. Stocky scrum half Hargreaves was always on call to move the ball quickly to the slick backs, who looked excellent as a unit. It is difficult to understand how Pontefract have lost so many games, this performance showed what a good side they are if they put their mind to it.
As far as Driffield were concerned, various things stand out. Little to no ball going forward, tackles missed and poor kick offs, far too long. Certain players tried to stem the tide, noticeably Havler, Boreman and Harding. But in the end it has to be faced, well beaten by a much better side.