Injured players takes the gloss off the last home game

In a hard fought,clean game Cam Bell (neck) Michael Searle (possible broken hand) Nick Townshend ( possible broken leg ) all ended up at the RVI hospital after the match which was moved pitches to allow Cam to receive treatment from the Physio and ambulance staff

On a blustery cold day Pont made several changes for unavailable players but still put out a strong team against Acklam who needed to win to gain promotion.
With a good turn out for the pre game lunch and Acklam bringing supporters on the team bus a large crowd saw Pont play into the strong wind.
Pont started off well and an early lineout drive saw a chris Searle try on 3 minutes. His brother Michael put in a tremendous touch line conversion to make it 7-0. Before people had time to take their seats( if we had any!) Acklam's backs ran the ball from deep and a missed tackle allowed them in to make 7-7 after 7 minutes. This breathless pace continued as Pont's forwards got the upper hand and Acklam's backs did the same. A big scrum and several good phases saw Pont with a 5 metre penalty. Pont drove over to score but the ref gave a knock on. Further Pont pressure saw a 10 metre lineout driven over by Chris Searle 12-7. Acklam immediately went on the attack an a penalty for offside made it 12-10 on 22 minutes. From the kick off Pont pressed and a dropped pass was scooped up by winger Bramble who set of to score but was brought back for a knock on.
Pont appeared to get the upper hand in the last ten minutes and another 15 metre lineout drive magically collapsed on the line - play on! Several more infringements saw the ref talk to Acklam players who were very lucky not to be given a card for their misdemeanours . A finally penalty was missed by Pont to make it 12-10 at half time.
With Freer off with a serious ankle injury Coulthard and Charlton entered the fray as Pont looked to use the wind behind them to push on in the second half. Within a couple of minutes disaster struck as Bell was caught awkwardly in a tackle culminating in a neck injury. Being unable to move him an ambulance was called and the game moved onto the nearby pitch kindly vacated by the 2nd team game. With a cross wind Pont appeared to lose some advantage but started the better of the two teams as a 5 metre scrum was pushed backwards allowing Robinson to touch down. Searle made it 19-10. As with the rest of the game Acklam charged back and another missed tackle saw Acklam's backs in 19-17. Acklam now had their best spell as the scented blood and a good sweeping attack saw them in to make it 19-24. As the script went it was Pont's turn to turn the screw as a superb line saw Gregory ghost behind the Acklam try line. Even though he has scored 18 tries this season he will now be remembered for dropping the ball as he went to score. You shag one sheep ... Or in his case hang one monkey!
Pont pressure saw Searle miss a penalty until a further massive line out drive saw Chris Searle in for a hat trick 24-24.
From the kick off Acklam attacked and Bramble went for the interception but couldn't manage to hold the ball - and got a yellow card for his troubles!
With 7 minutes left on the clock Acklam threw everything at Pont but indiscipline saw them penalised and Pont cleared. Acklam began a pick and drive sequence and when 30 metres out the ref apparently saw the Pont winger 30 metres away was offside and awarded a penalty at the point of the ruck. Under pressure from the touch line and his own players the Acklam kicker coolly stroked it over as the whistle blew. 24-27
The game had everything and possibly a draw was the fairest result but in a game of small margins Pont's dropped try and a coolly taken kick made the difference in the end.
After the game Pont were presented with the cup as D & N 2 champions and it looks like battle will re commence next season with Acklam as they look nailed on for the second spot.
A great time was had in the bar afterwards as Acklam came on a bus so a proper rugby after match celebration took place between both sets of players and frazzled spectators!
Injury update- all were released from hospital - compressed vertebrae, broken hand and severe bruising.