Boars vs Ponteland 2nds

Disappointing start to the day with several cry offs and two no shows despite being picked in the match day squad – Michael Alton & Some dude with massive hair called Plumpton!!

Houghton Boars travelled to a very strong Ponteland 2nds, the game started with Allan Scott collecting the kick off and setting up an attacking platform but momentum is halted by a knock on, both teams then seem to struggle attacking with several knock ons for both. Jordan Matthews aka Barry Allan aka The Flash makes a break down the blindside from his own 22 and makes it all the way to the opposition 22 before he is eventually tackled however due to his ridiculous pace he was isolated and a penalty was given after the turn over to Ponteland as the Boars are caught offside trying to win the ball back.

A midfield battle then rages with no team giving an inch with some solid defending from both teams forcing knock ons and forward passes all over the park. The Ponteland winger makes a break, Shepherd who has just recently graduated from the ‘Tom Birtley school of tackling’ tries to make a cover tackle but gets his head on the wrong side and hits the deck like a sack of turd!
Several phases later the Boars are sloppy in midfield and the ball is spilled, Ponteland capitalise on the loose ball and ship it along their backline for the outside centre to score in the corner – not converted 5 – 0.

Ridley’s restart is straight into touch gibing Ponteland the possession back however the Boars defence was excellent and turned the ball over a few phases later, the ball is moved to the backs who start a move which is looking promising Ridley to Turton to Hawkins back to Ridl……..knock on. Ponteland break from the scrum only to find Glenn Crowther there with a brilliant hit, they move tohe ball to the backs and into their strong runners hands (no.12) who smashes through Turton – a phrase that could be used several times in this report but could get a little boring, two phases later the no.12 smashes through Turton again!!

Ponteland have a penalty on the Boars 22 but a quick tap doesn’t go according to plan and is turned over, Penalty awarded to the Boars – resulting penalty kick doesn’t find touch and Ponteland break out wide but are forced into touch. Ponteland are now applying more pressure and putting some good phases together until they run out of options and get isolated – ball is turned over by Shepherd and penalty awarded for holding on – Kick hits touch this time but Ralf couldn’t find his man at the line-out and Ponteland are back in possession, again more good phases but the Boars defence holds strong despite Capt. Richard (Boomed) Lydiatt getting boomed by the Ponteland scrum half!! This set off a section of the game where the Boars seemed to lose the plot and give penalties away, Ollie for a high tackle, Darren ‘Black 6’ Schofield and Allan Scott for not rolling away – kicked for corner to setup the rolling maul but it’s held up over the line! Somehow a penalty is awarded, not sure how or why, a quick tap is taken and Ponteland crash over the line in corner again – no conversion 10 – 0.

This seems to wake the Boars up and they are on the offensive from the kick off, turning ball over and putting some good phases together until its eventually knocked on. From the resulting scrum the Ponteland backs make a mess of their move and allow Paul Ridley to make a break and offload to the onrushing self-proclaimed ‘best centre’ at the club Newton Turton who scores the Boars first points – not converted 10 – 5.

HT finished 10 – 5.

Second half starts quickly for the Boars with Ponteland getting caught offside – kick for touch doesn’t make it but a great chase from ‘The Flash’ puts their winger into touch in their own 22. The Boars through Capt. Richard Lydiatt steal the lineout and quickly set the backs away who make good yards through Cummy, then the next phase Hawkins, the ball is then slow and needs a forward to punch on but Allan Scott knocks it on. The Boars pile the pressure on at the scrum which forces a poor pass to their backs who don’t make enough yards and eventually the ball is turned over and the Boars release their backs again and this time it manages to go through lots of sets of hands before Kingy scores in the corner – not converted 10 – 10 – just what the Boars needed at the start of the second half!!

Some good yards are being made now in both the backs through Turton and Hawkins and the forwards through Capt. Richard ‘Boomed’ Lydiatt, Allan Scott, Crowther, Shepherd and Schofield – the Boars have now put a serious amount of phases together and both attack and defence are looking tired – Turton takes it on and offloads to Hawkins who offloads to Shepherd with little space to work in 10 yards out, puts a little grubber kick in which ‘The Flash’ nearly converts into a try but couldn’t quite gather it before the ball went out for a Ponteland lineout on their own 5 metre line. Ponteland make a hash of their own lineout OR our jumper did enough to force the mistake – I’ll let you decide but then out of nowhere Ralfy pops up, catches the ball, head down for the line……………and is driven over the line for another try by Allan Scott – conversion missed 10 – 15.

Kick-off is caught by Shepherd who dances round a defender and offloads to ‘The Flash’ who makes another break and good yards down the touchline but is eventually bundled into touch. Ponteland seem to have woken up now and are pushing hard for a score, several phases have been put together now and their winger is hungry for a try so comes inside, its ok Capt. Boom Lydiatt is there to make the tackl…………BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM he’s sent to the floor for the second time in the game whilst trying to make a tackle, a few phases later they break through and are only stopped by a try saving tackle from ‘The Flash’!! Somehow a penalty is given – probably for Ollie Barker thinking its league and hitting someone high – it’s taken quickly and the Ponteland lads show a good set of hands to score in the corner again 15 – 15.

The Boars back on the offensive through good phase play make their way into the Ponteland 22 but knock on, A great scrum form the pack puts the 9 under pressure who is smashed by both Shepherd and Reay, Ridley picks up the loose ball and beats the 10. But is caught by the centre, manages to offload to Turton who crashes over the line for his second try of the day which is converted for some bizarre reason (whilst Ridley is getting some medical attention) by Ollie Barker with a drop kick to make it 15 – 22.
Rob knocks on from the kick-off, quick penalty taken again and good yards gained for Ponteland – good tackle made by Jordan ‘The Flash’ Matthews and the Boars steal the ball back.
It turns into who can knock the ball on next contest with the defences putting an immense amount of pressure on whoever is attacking - Both teams putting phases together until eventually its knocked on or penalty is given against them, it’s taking its toll on the players now.

Ponteland behind with only 7 minutes or so to play seem to have found some energy from somewhere and mount a sustained attack which is only thwarted by the heart the Boars show in defence – Rob Middlemass, Darren Schofield, Adam Reay, Ridley, Turton, Matthews all hitting good tackles but that only slows the wave of attacks down and now Ponteland are in the Boars 22 and looking dangerous, the winger still hungry for points comes inside again and is faced with going past Capt. Boomed Lydiatt – surely lightning can’t strike three times in the same match, Rich lines him up for the big hit and BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM he’s sent unceremoniously to floor (Surely DOTD moment) and the winger moves onto his next victim but is stopped by Hawkins, the ball is recycled time and time again by Ponteland who eventually score close to the posts but fail to convert the try 20 – 22.
Houghton again are on the back foot in their own 22 having lost possession shortly after the restart but an excellent counter ruck and steal by Allan Scott puts the Boars back in the driving seat and Ridley clears the lines. Houghton win the ball back a few phases later through good counter rucking and look after the ball with mauls and ruck, phase after phase to run the clock down – they eventually win a lineout just inside the Ponteland 22 and decide to throw the ball to the prop at the front instead of the lineout jumper – it backfires and the possession is now with Ponteland with nearly nothing left on the clock, they look to break through with a big carry from their no.12 who bounces off several tackles (Turton) and laughs before lining up Adam Reay who gives him what fore and leaves in on his back in the mud laughing at him.
Ref blows the whistle on a very good, competitive game of rugby that was played in very good spirits – Boars win 20 – 22.
Post match team talk is held by Boomed Lydiatt and Shepherd where they discuss how well the lads have played and coming away with a win is a brilliant result, should be really proud etc etc.

Ralfy leaves the pitch, listens to the team talk, walks to the changing rooms and discusses with Adam Reay how we lost the game……………………………….WTAF!!

MOTM – Newton Turton
DOTD – Ryan Main (should have been Lydiatt but a late entry from Ralf wins it)