test 4/2/07 Pontefract u16s vs Sandal Under 16s     

A depleted Pontefract side took to Moor Lane to avenge the defeat at the hands of Sandal earlier on in the season.

Straight from the referee's whistle, Pontefract had Sandal on the back foot as swift handling by both forwards and then backs helped the ball to Dunn- Birch who flashed round the Sandal defences to score the first try of the match.
Within minutes of the re-start, Sandal were again having to defend their line as Ponte's ferocious pack including Brownsword, Plange and Dalton forced a further mistake from Sandal  which allowed Armstrong to run over the line for Ponte'second try o f the morning. Fox duly converted.
Sandal were on the ropes and reeling from the Ponte's blistering start!
Continued pressure had Pontefract in total control and it wasn't long before the backs including Parker, Fox and Wilson delivered the ball to Dunn-Birch for his second and Ponte's third try of the game. Once again Fox converted.
Going into the second half Sandal had obviously had the team talk they required as they came out fighting, however Ponte were determined and dogged in defence. Both Morris and Barton were outstanding.
Midway through the second half another one of Dunn-Birchs darting runs outwitted the Sandal defence as he ran is his hat trick try.
Grace, who had given his all, was substituted by Barker with twenty minutes to go. Immediately he stepped up to the mark and put in some stunning try saving tackles thwarting the Sandal advance.
With ten minutes left of the match, Sandal scored a consolation try through some hard work on the right wing but the outcome had long been known. Pontefract had avenged the previous defeat.
A first class Pontefract performance, with Barton being named Man of the Match.