Morley shared 11 tries with Pontefract in a tense, physical encounter at Scatcherd Lane with the lead changing hands four times. Morley held a 12 point lead with 10 minutes to go but two converted tries by Pontefract in the 71st and 81st minute gave them a narrow 2 point lead in injury time. Morley did not buckle and grabbed the winner with a penalty moments before the end.

Morley started well by scoring in the first minute and had a good first 30 minutes. Morley kicked off and a poor return kick by Pontefract was well fielded by Phipps. Tyrer carried on the move and Kai Taylor Smith made ground down the cricket club side. His kick ahead looked to be covered by the Pontefract fullback, but he mis-fielded the ball and it squirmed back towards Kai who had the simple job of scoring with less than a minute on the clock.

The second try was an easy run in for Tyrer. George Kelly saw the wide open spaces in behind a ruck on the Morley 10 m line. Tyrer followed up and had a simple run in to push the score to 10 – 0 on 10 minutes.

Pontefract hit back with a penalty for a scrum offence on 18 minutes but Morley were still in control and continued to attack. From a messy lineout, Phipps was first to react to secure the ball. Long passes from Bowen and George Kelly gave Tyrer some space and his half break sucked in a couple of defenders to allow Silkstone to deliver a try scoring pass to Dan Cass on the stand touchline. Noah Hawkins wasn’t have a good day with the boot so the score remained at 15 – 3.

The match went through a messy period, dominated by knock-ons and other mistakes before the pendulum towards Pontefract. Pontefract fought their way back into the game and had enjoyed the majority of possession and territory in the final 10 minutes of the first half. George Bowen was unlucky to be penalised when he was yellow carded for not rolling away from a ruck and Pontefract took immediate advantage by scoring a converted try by captain Brodie Matthews following a simple catch and drive to leave the half time score 15 – 8.

Morley’s hopes of a win after scoring 3 early tries looked to be misplaced when Pontefract opened the scoring in the second half. A fortunate bounce and an athletic leap by Josh Milthorpe paved the way for him to race in to get Pontefract’s second try on 44 minutes. 10 minutes later he nearly scored again after a searing break through the heart of the Morley defence. He was stopped just short of the try line but was able to pop up the ball to Ponte’s substitute prop, Nazir Karim, to score on his debut. Both tries were converted to give Pontefract a 22 – 15 lead.

Ponte were looking good but three tries from the Maroons in 8 minutes would change that. Bowen made an excellent interception set up the first try. He took ball on Morley’s 10m line and the backrower got to the Pontefract 22m line before being tackled. Phipps was in support and the pack secured the ball. With the Pontefract defence in some disarray, the Morley backs, Hawkins, Kelly, Fox and Silkstone worked the ball out to Tyrer on the stand touchline. His burst of speed allowed him to beat the tackler to run in from the 22. Hawkins conversion edged the score to draw Morley level at 22 – 22.

From the kick off, Bowen caught the ball and raced from the Morley 10m line to the Pontefract 10m line. Tyrer took the ball deep into the Pontefract half. The ball was moved to the right. Sam Fox and George Kelly continued the moved to Ed Kelly who weaved his way forward. From the resulting ruck, Hawkins found Dearden on the right wing. Dearden still had a man to beat but he did that and went over for Morley’s 5th try.

Morley’s final try came from following a scrum on the 22m line on the right. Using a training ground move, Fox and Kelly combined well to set up Silkstone. He had a two on one with the final defender and was able to give a try scoring pass, this time to Jake Dearden to allow him to collect his second try.

Coming from 15 -22 down to 34 – 22 and only 10 minutes made the Morley supporters feel confident of a win. However, Pontefract had other ideas and used their forwards to attack the Morley line. Morley held for quite a while but eventually Pontefract found a gap and prop Dec Lewis on his full debut went over on 71 minutes. 34 – 29.

Normal time was up as Ponte kicked a penalty kick to touch for a last attempt at a catch and drive. Noah did very well to prevent the ball going into touch and produced an excellent touch line clearance to the opposition’s 22. However, with 3 passes the ball reached the opposite wing. Milthorpe sped down the stand side, produced and excellent chip and then prodded the ball forward for Metcalf to dive over to touch down by the posts. The conversion was a formality. Pontefract led 36 – 34.

With the clock ticking Morley kicked off to the Pontefract 22. Tyrer drove the catcher back several metres but Ponte had possession. They began to run the clock down by making short forward drives. However, on the sixth drive they committed an offence to give Morley one last chance. Hawkins stepped up to take the penalty. With only a 33% success rate from his conversion attempts it was a real pressure kick for him. However the kick was successful and Morley held the lead again 37 – 36.

Could Pontefract make another comeback? Sadly for them, he answer was no. Their kick off did not go 10m, Morley won the scrum at the centre and Fox kicked to touch to end the game.

Commiserations to Pontefract who had played their part in a tense exciting try filled match and who had also fallen to a last minute reverse at Malton the previous week.

Pontefract view from their web site

Morley v Pontefract. Match Report Steve Hough - Rugby Correspondent at Large

Pontefract denied by last minute penalty - but pick up two bonus points

This high scoring and entertaining type of game is becoming the norm for Ponte
For the second week in a row Pontefract were denied a win in the last minute of the game. This high scoring and entertaining type of game is becoming the norm for Ponte, as determination, team spirit and a great strike power keeps them in games, even when on the back foot. Morley opened the scoring in the first minute as an ill-judged cross field kick fell kindly for the Morley winger to score. This lead was doubled when a box kick from the home scrum half found open space for a chase and score.

Despite a penalty reply from Liam Kay, Morley stretched their lead to fifteen three, as an uncharacteristic, missed tackle allowed a try out wide. Ponte needed a response and managed it with a try on the stroke of half time for captain Brodie Matthews from a catch and drive at the line out.

Pontefract got the second half off to a great start as a kindly bounce allowed try scoring phenomenon Josh Milthorpe to go under the posts with Kay adding the extras to bring the scores level. Soon after Milthorpe was at it again as he scythed through and offloaded to exciting debutant Nazir Karim for another seven pointer.

Morley then scored three quick tries. Firstly, with Ponte dominating an interception allowed a reply and a mix up at the restart allowed another. When the home side scored again to make the deficit twelve points it looked like it was game over, but Ponte never lack fight and tries from Dec Lewis on his full debut and Linden Metcalfe gave them a two point advantage with the clock ticking down. After some end to end rugby, Ponte had to settle for two bonus points as Morley converted a penalty to sneak the win.

It was another sterling effort from Ponte with Bailly Matthews standing out up front with Ethan Potts and Callum Rodgers not far behind. In the backs Harry Wollaston, Sam Gilbert and Lucas Ketteridge all shone alongside the outstanding Milthorpe.

Morley had a double over Ponte on Saturday as they defeated our 2nd XV 34:26 in an exciting game.

Photos are available on the Media tab or by clicking the links below.

Dennis's photo's

Nigel's photo's

Next Saturday Morley are again at home in a re-arranged game with Wetherby. The game had to be cancelled on January 11 due to the very heavy snow. Kick off is 14.15

The Cavaliers will also be home on Saturday. They face Keighley 2s and hope to kick off at 14.00 but this has still to be confirmed with the opposition.