Stretched 2s get the bonus point

While a lot of games were cancelled due to storm Dennis, Sandal's away league game against Pontefract went ahead. But unfortunately for Sandal the result went against them 10-3.

Sandal were looking for a bonus point win to seal their position at the top of their Championship South league. But the 10- 3 defeat puts their promotion under pressure and only a bonus point home win against second placed Otley on the 21st March and wins against the 5 remaining sides will secure it.

This game was certainly challenging for Sandal, who opted to play with the wind and slope advantage in the first half hoping to gain a good lead and contain Pontefract in the second half.

Unfortunately this plan back fired, despite Sandal having most of the play in the first half they couldn't get tries. They did come close to scoring when in the 15th minute following a scrum on the Pontefract 22 George Hulme scrum half spun the ball left to stand off Cam Lees, centers Brindley and Coopey quickly got the ball to winger Sufi who grounded the ball, but unfortunately the last pass was adjudged forward. Despite excellent hard drives by front row Hoyland, King and Bacon and second rows Morley, Knowles and Knapton, Sandal were denied tries in the first half and only came away with a 3 point penalty kicked by full back Jacob Barlow.

In the second half Captain Michael Knowles and prop Nick King retired injured and with the wind and rain increasing, 90 percent of the play was in the Sandal half. The heavier and more experienced Pontefract forwards continually hammered into the Sandal line. Despite excellent drives and crunching tackles by the Sandal players especially the back row of: Harry Cartwright, Will Kettel, Toby Farmer and Jon Guy, Pontefract managed to get two good scores. The first was spun down the Pontefract line for the winger to score in the right corner. The second again, despite the weather, spinning the ball quickly right in the Sandal 22, a quick ruck and feed just to the right of the post allowed the Pontefract scrum half to break left and score under the post, neither try was converted. The final score was a well deserved 10- 3 to Pontefract.

No excuses by Sandal for the loss, but maybe the absence of Seckham, Bingle, Cranmer and Paddy, key players for Sandal, was significant? Also, Sandal didn't have their regular 10's with Wood and Smith not available. Despite all that Pontefract well deserved the win and played an excellent game, their defence was outstanding and they played the ball wide well despite the wind, resulting in two good scores, whereas Sandal didn't use their backs and opted for continually driving the ball into bigger forwards.
A defeat for Sandal will be positive for them, to energise and motivate them for the remaining games and gain their promotion.
Next week Sheffield Engineers away 2.15 KO.
BK