A new fence and sponsor boards, spruced up ground and new changing and bar facilities joined up with lovely weather for Ponts first home game in D&N1.

Pont played into a strong wind from the kickoff with Pont trying to run out from their own half, ending in the visitors scrum. A pattern was set as the home front eight showed West backwards.

A quick penalty saw Paddy Holliday race 80 m, offloading to Gerard to score. 5-0 (4 min) .

West then got into the game but were thwarted by a Robson turnover. Further penalties saw West kick 40 m for a five metre line out catch and drive saw the visitors on the scoreboard. 5-7 ( 12 min)

West continued to push forward as a further home penalty saw holiday off again, feeding Gerard, running under the posts and converted. 12-7 ( 15 min) .

Pont continued to dominate as Pratt pushed his way through several tackles. The game continued to ebb and flow as West drove a line out 40 m as the home side defended desperately.

West stopped just short of the line and several good offloads saw them in the corner to make it. 12-12 ( 28 min).

Ponts forwards then gained ground as Gerrard took off, putting Nicholson in for a converted try. 19-12 (31 min).

A home scrum saw the ball squirt out the side as West scooped it up to collect and score. 19-19 ( 38 min).

The end to end stuff continued as Nicholson weaved his way through the visitors defence giving Gerrard an easy walk in for a converted bonus point try. 26-19. ( 39 min)

Half Time
Ponteland RFC 26-19 West Hartlepool

Pont started the second half well, putting pressure on the visiting team. The Holliday , Gerrard combination again came up trumps as a tap and go saw Gerrard over for an unconverted try 31-19 ( 43 min).

With the home team throwing on their replacements a big scrum saw Pratt picking and feeding Holliday then Ryan for his fourth converted try 38-19 47 min).

West continued to battle hard and when a home scrum lost the ball at the base they pounced for their bonus point try 38-24 ( 57 min).

From the kickoff young Robson put in an outrageous dummy and smashed his way up the field. From the ensuing breakdown west stole the ball as quick hands produced a converted try. 38-31 (63 min).

Pont were now on the rampage and an outrageous set of sidesteps and ducking and diving saw Binmore in for a converted try 43-31 (65 min).

The visitors were now being run ragged and several of their players left the field and the game went to uncontested scrums. West desperate attempts to get back into the game ended with several mistakes, allowing Beswick to intercept, juggle the ball and then racing 40 m to score. 52-31 (78 min ).

The game finished with Elliott Trott making a magic run, beating half a dozen defenders and only being stopped a metre short of the line.

FT 52-31

The young referee played well and it was great to see the #MaroonFamily back again.