Colts 28 Ponteland 21

By Peter Greenwell - September 8 2015
Colts 28 Ponteland 21
As an opening game of the season this was a brilliant advertisement for Under 18 rugby, with some scintillating handling and some tremendous tackling from both sides throughout the game. This gave those of us who were privileged to watch the game a very enjoyable day.

Unfortunately Ponteland were unable to field a trained front row so the scrums were uncontested, but it was the only part of the game that was not fiercely contested throughout.

Ponteland opened the scoring after a lot of early pressure when they broke through down the centre of the field to score after 15minutes of play. (0-7).

West however mounted a couple of attacking moves down the left hand side and after a good run by Anthony Hannet, he managed to offload through the tackle to the supporting Lewis Wilson (pictured) who dived over to score from five yards out. This was superbly converted by Johnathan Heal (7-7).

The next score was by Anthony Hannet who was set free after a free flowing backs move down the left hand side to round his opposite number and score in the corner. This was again superbly converted by Johnathan Heal giving the colts a half time lead of (14-7).

The second half had only just begun when hooker Jordan Foulds broke through the visitors defence on the twenty two metre line to score under the posts, converted by Johnathan Heal. (21-7)

The visitors however were not about to lie down and let west have it all their own way and came storming up field and despite some resolute defence from the colts scored from a series of rucks and mistakes on the west line. (21-14)

The colts were immediately back on the attack and after some slick handling, good quick rucking and moving the ball left and right across the field centre Joe Willis burst through the visitors defence to score converted by Johnathan Heal (28-14)

The visitors would not lie down however and kept going right to the end with their loose head prop picking up a loose ball and charging over from twenty yards out with the last play of the game. Final result (28-21), in a game well refereed by: Dave Bennet of Durham Referees Society.

West Colts squad: Johnny Graham, Jordan Foulds, Adam Brown, Frazer Handley [Cpt], Elliott Angus, James Boyd-Hill, Cameron Mould, Matthew Ward, Matthew Crowe, Johnathan Heal, Ben Armstrong, Louis Scott, Joe Willis, Anthony Hannet, Lewis Wilson, Josh Tyrell, John Smith, Jason Robinson, Alex Kinnersley.