This was a scrappy game with neither side ever really taking control and dominating. Both teams had their moments of playing some good rugby but these were few and far between and well outnumbered by handling errors and mistakes, resulting in a stop-start affair.

Scott Jordan went narrowly wide with an early long-range penalty before Pontefract had a spell of pressure with a series of 5 metre scrums only for the move to be brought to an end when they were penalised for feeding.

Andrew Foreman got us going with a superb solo try, the scrum half picking up from the base of a scrum 40 metres out and, having rounded his opposite number, broke the tackle of the full-back to open the scoring. Jordan added the extras and with 23 minutes gone it seemed to be just the boost we needed to get going in the game.

But an interception from winger Shane Simpson saw him race in for a try on 32 minutes and peg the lead back to just two points. Not to be discouraged we produced by far the best move of the match 5 minutes later, resulting in a try for stand-off Stu Waites. Adam Larkin started the move, collecting a kick on our own 22 and looping a pass to Waites as he came under pressure from the Pontefract chasers. Given the interception moments earlier there were a few gasps of breath in the crowd but Waites started a counter attack which saw Jon Boatman and Adam Howard both making ground before Waites himself popped up on the right wing to race clear and finish a fantastic try.

Despite not having had much attacking rugby since their early pressure, as the half drew to a close Pontefract wrestled their way back into the lead. A penalty from centre Andy Dean was followed up by stand-off Glen Boyd ghosting through a gap to score under the posts, Dean's simple conversion making the half-time score 15-12 to the visitors.

The lead didn't last long in to the second half though as Waites got his second try just 7 minutes in. Peter Hodsgon made a good break only to stumble a few metres short of the line but as the ball was moved to the right Waites sold a dummy and slipped through the resulting gap to touch down with Jordan again adding the conversion.

With plenty of time left it seemed like we would go on to secure the bonus point but credit to Ponty they limited us to only a couple of clear opportunities. Jordan added a penalty on 61 minutes to extend the lead to 7 points but as the game drew towards it's conclusion, the visitors looked the more likely side to draw level than we did to score a fourth try. As it turned out the best chance of that try came with the final play of the game. Adam Howard secured a turn over on half way and sent Andrew Davies galloping up-field. With two men outside it looked like a try could be on but after passing to Jon Boatman the two forwards collided and the ball went loose, fittingly summing up the game from a West point of view.

Pontefract would probably have been happy with a losing bonus point before the game and although securing the win, we will certainly feel a bit disappointed we couldn't score that all important fourth try. A visit to Team Northumbria awaits next week, when a more precise performance will be required if we want to keep up the chase on Percy Park.

West: Jordan (G Robinson), Thomas, Cheslin, Hodgson, Larkin, Waites, A Foreman, Carr, Bailey, Stockdale, Davies, T Dixon, D Boatman, J Boatman, Howard. Reps (not used): Coates, Young.

Tries: A Foreman, Waites 2. Con: Jordan 2 Pen: Jordan

Pontefract: Bateman, Spears, Dean, Dykes, Simpson, Boyd, Hargreaves, Laverick, A Smith, Pagett, C Smith, Brady, Williams, Scott, Burnett. Reps: Fradgley, Planchant, Newell

Tries: Simpson, Boyd Con: Dean Pen: Dean

Referee: Paul Candlish [Durham Society]