Bonus point would have been fitting reward for Old Grovians in Yorkshire Division Two

OLD Grovians, who could have been drubbed as they were below strength, continue to improve and deserved at least a losing bonus point from this game against third-placed Pontefract.

The home side, who reduced the penalty count which had hampered them in recent matches, applied pressure for long spells during the game and traded scores.

After Grovians' Anthony Griffin applied early pressure, Pontefract were offside at a line-out, and Ben Brown landed a penalty for the hosts.

Pontefract, who did well not to concede a try, responded with a converted try and an unconverted try to lead 12-3 at half-time.

Griffin, Mark Harwood and Jack Hartley traded passes to get Grovians within a few feet of the try line at the start of the second half, but Lewis Brook then made no mistake from the scrum.

The home side continued to press but the visitors bagged their third try midway through the half, which was converted, and almost bagged a fourth.

However, Griffin recovered the loose ball and interchanged passes with Harwood for the latter to score a converted try, putting them only 19-15 down.

But the visitors fourth try did follow, with Grovians left realising that they need to apply pressure for more of the 80 minutes than they did here.