Dinnington defy the odds for victory

Dinnington RUFC (red/blue) v Mansfield (blue/white)

Despite being without several players and with others playing out of position, Dinnington defied pre-match predictions to record an excellent victory over Pontefract to move up to fifth in the table.

Dinnington made a strong start and early pressure on the Pontefract defence earned the hosts a penalty which Jonny West converted.

Ten minutes into the half, Dinnington worked the ball up field with some close play in the forwards only to be stopped just short of the line but they quickly recycled the ball to put Liam Hopkins in under the posts. West converted for a 10-0 lead.

Dinnington kept their momentum but started to get penalised at the tackle allowing Pontefract to switch the pressure.

Good home defending kept them out but they could not stop a 40-metre penalty cutting their lead to 10-3.

Just past the mid-point of the half injury forced Dinnington to make a change but it did not affect their play and moments later another West penalty restored the lead to 10 points.

Pontefract then lifted their effort and the game moved from end-to-end with both defences on top.

Dinnington came close to scoring a try when Will Marshall was denied by a high tackle but they then wasted the chance by failing to execute a move from a line-out.

As the half moved into its final minutes it became a bit niggly and scrappy but Dinnington were more than content to go into half time 13-3 ahead.

Pontefract applied the early pressure in the second half but more good defending kept them out.

Five minutes in, Dinnington stalled their progress slightly when West landed a penalty from close to halfway but the visitors almost got through from the kick off, knocking on with the last pass.

Dinnington heeded the warning and upped their game.

Five minutes later a kick through by West was collected by winger Rob Levers who scored in the corner. West converted to move the score to 23-3.

Pontefract, to their credit never gave up and were always looking dangerous.

However, they were making too many mistakes and as the half progressed Dinnington were becoming more confident of victory.

With 10 minutes to go Dinnington put full-back Chris Williams in for a try and three minutes later a similar move ended with Williams off-loading to Levers for him to score behind the posts. West added both conversions.

Although Dinnington were on top, Pontefract still refused to give up and put the home side under pressure inside their on 22.

A series of penalties saw Dinnington have a player sent to the sin bin and Pontefract took the opportunity to drive over for a converted try.

They continued to press and with the last play of the game went over under the posts for a second converted try which their efforts throughout the game deserved.

Tomorrow, Dinnington travel to the early pacesetters York.