“We blew it!”
This was Peter Robinson’s rather blunt assessment of his team’s game against Ponteland, a game that saw the Hartlepool club’s hopes of a third consecutive win dashed in disappointing fashion.
Blunt it might have been, but Robinson could not be closer to truth as Tech should really have sewn the game up long before Ponteland fly half, Martinus J De Jager, stepped up to slot an injury time penalty to give his team a narrow 13-10 victory, a victory that moves the Northumberland club up to ten points, four points ahead of their vanquished opponents.
In conditions similar to those that greeted these two sides in the first game back on the 20th of November, Ponteland kicked off and settled into a good rhythm quickly. Their speedy backs always asking questions of the Tech defence and it came as no surprise when the home team moved into the lead on 10 minutes when De Jager, made amends for an earlier miss by placing a penalty between the uprights.
Despite this however, Tech struck back in impressive fashion. From the kick off, number 8 Stephen Stockdale, who had a magnificent match, carried the ball, and a few Ponteland defenders, up to the 22 were a maul was set up. From this maul, Kevin Cook broke away untouched and having drawn Ponteland’s full back, sent a pass out to Simon Cavey who scampered over the line to put Tech 5-3 up.
Lifted by this, Tech began to take control of the game and camped in the home 22, but just like the first game against Ponteland, could not find the scoring move. Frustrated by the lack of penetration, Tech began to make silly mistakes allowing their hosts of the hook and giving them opportunities to clear their lines.
It seemed that no further score would be added before the break but on 39 minutes Tech did grab their second try following a Ponteland blunder. Having been awarded a penalty, Ashley Parker’s attempt at goal fell short and was collected by second row Harvey Bower. With Tech’s players advancing fast, Bower panicked and having been wrapped up, attempted to offload a pass. This resulted in a turnover and with Ponteland totally disorganised, the ball was shipped over to Howard who dived in at the corner to give Tech a 10-3 half time advantage.
After the break the visitors continued to look strong. An attacking lineout should have yielded a try but with the outstanding Phil Jukes having secured the ball from the throw, the subsequent maul saw the ball knocked on. Knowing that they had been let off the hook, Ponteland upped their game and were rewarded on 14 minutes when after an excellent break by Tim Riley, Stu Reed was sent over. De Jager added an excellent touchline conversion to level matters up at 10 all.
With both teams anxious about making a crucial error with the game so tight, proceedings became a little scrappy and it seemed that the game was destined for a draw but with just seconds left, Tech were penalised 30 yards out, and De Jager performed the heroics with a well placed kick.
There was still time though for Tech to work their way back into the Ponteland half and win a penalty, the 40 yard place kick to be the last act of the match. Sadly, Parker’s kick drifted agonisingly wide of the mark.
It just about summed up his teams day, close but no cigar.
Ponteland 13
Try: Reed (54)
Con: De Jager (54)
Pen: De Jager (10, 80)
Tech 10
Tries: Cavey (11), Howard (39)
Ponteland
Oakes, Blow, Reed, Riley, Varley (c), De Jager, Raine, Steven, Chappell, Jobling, Freer, Bower, Ogilvie, Hughes, Harrison, Subs: Leetham, Henderson, McGawley (all used)
Scrums 12, Attacking scrums 2, Scrums won on own put in 9, Scrums lost on own put in 3 (1 wheeled), Pens awarded 13, Kicked at goal 3 (1 miss), Kicked for touch 6, Ran 4, Lineouts won on own throw 6, Lineouts lost on own throw 8
Tech
Masshedar, Jones (c), Cavey, M Parker, Cole, A Parker, P Williamson, Thompson, Dixon, Palmer, Jukes, Howard, Smart, Cook, Stockdale, Subs: C Williamson, Brown, Robson (all used)
Scrums 10, Attacking scrums 3, Scrums won on own put in 8, Scrums lost on own put in 2 (2 wheeled), Pens awarded 18, Kicked at goal 2 (2 misses), Kicked for touch 14, Ran 2, Lineouts won on own throw 16, Lineouts lost on own throw 4