Despite going behind three times in the match, Sandal finally triumphed in a tough encouter against a strong Pontefract side.

Pontefract put the hosts under pressure from the start and were rewarded when their full back gathered a defensive clearance kick near touch on half way and ran around the Sandal defence to score in the opposite corner for a 0-5 lead.

Sandal recovered from the nervy start and after applying their own pressure to the Pontefract line, barged over from close in to level the scores and then converted to make it 7-5.

The teams were evenly matched and the score remained the same until the stroke of half time when Pontefract made a break down the left wing and again scored in the left corner to take the score to 7-10 at the midpoint.

Early in the second half Sandal came back again and took the lead with an unconverted try 12-10.

But they were pegged back again when Pontefract won a defensive scrum in their 22 and somehow from under their own posts managed to break free of the onrushing defence before going the full length to score under the opposite posts. The conversion was added to take the score to 12-17.

Sandal piled on the pressure looking for a response and a series of penalties near the visitors' line eventually led to a yellow card and Pontefract were down to 14. Eventually the pressure told and after several phases the home team again barged over from close range to level the scores - the conversion gave them a slender 2 point lead 19-17.

With the minutes ticking away the game was up for grabs but Sandal made it safe, taking advantage of a rare defensive lapse by Pontefract to break free, and, although hauled up just short, quickly recovered the ball to score near the posts. The conversion made it 26-17 and the game was safe.

Sandal conceded three very individual tries from the visitors but responded with excellent team spirit and strength of character to reach their fourth final in five years.