A solid, all round performance

Ponteland turned up at a proper grassroots rugby club where the pitch sloped down to all five corners!!
Sedgefield started off well as Pont's defence held them at bay. Windess and Walton made good breaks as the home team demonstrated that they could defend as well. A steal at at defending lineout won Pont a penalty by Chick ( 6 min) 3-0. Pont were now attacking wide and good hands saw Townshend in for a well worked converted try (12 min) 10-0 Pont were applying pressure and a good lineout steal by the skipper saw Searle over the line 15-0 ( 16 min) Sedgefield continued to push forward and a charge down and penalty saw them force themselves over the line 15-7 ( 19 min)
A Scott charge down saw the ball over the line by no one could get the touchdown. A massive lineout drive saw Marcus sweep in and claim the try. Chick converted from the touchline 22-7. (32 min) HT 22-7
Within a minute of kick off Pont dropped the ball and a kick through saw the covering player dance like a sugar plum fairy trying to clear the ball. It failed and Sedgefield made it 22-14 ( 41 min) the Pont team then gave themselves a good talking too as the rest of the game put Sedgefield under the cosh. A multi phased moved saw Long over the line with Chick converting from out wide 29-14 ( 53 mins) with Steven and Boyes on it didn't take Boyes long to get his first try for the first team as a 20 metre lineout drive saw him touch down. Again Chick hit a long conversion 36-14 ( 65 min) the home team were now dead on their feet and several players left the field injured due to their constant tackling. Man of the Match, Sam Long made another bullocking run scattering players left and right as he got his second converted try 43-14 ( 69 min) Boyes then made a clean break and did a good impression of a startled rabbit! Another sweeping attack saw Chick in the corner 48-14 (71 min). With Newbigin kicking well and Baron taking several against the head Pont created more chances but the final pass often went astray. Ponteland's defence was all consuming and a double turn over by Baron and Mew was spun wide and the skipper , Jonny LE was over in the corner, only to drop the ball before grounding!! FT 48-14

Sedgefield played well, tackled hard but ultimately were over run by a fitter , more inventive side. They were excellent hosts afterwards and are, what a good community club should be.

Ponteland have often been at the wrong end of that special Durham referee's interpretation on the laws of rugby football. On Saturday the ref had an excellent game - in control but allowing both sides to play rugby with consistent application of the laws ( and no I am not feeling unwell ! )

Man of the match. Sam Long
Dick of the day - Larry Mew for a kick and chase in the home 22