MALTON HONOUR FIXTURE AND TAKE A POINT.
James Knock
On a day when for one reason or another the fixture list in the North East was lost in the gloom and fog Malton were one of 18 clubs out of a possible 56 to turn up, play up and play the game.
Kick off for the second time this month was brought forward to 2.00pm to try and avoid finishing in the dark, and even this measure could not avoid the gloom in the final quarter.
Malton kicked off against a Driffield outfit unbeaten at home this season and it wasn’t long before the home side won a penalty at a line out but missed the pot at goal. However they rectified this on 10 minutes the fly half splitting the posts with his second attempt.
Minutes later Malton had a chance to reply but dropped the ball in midfield. With the forwards initially equally matched in the opening 30 minutes and both defences working well, it became obvious that the more accurate and clinical team would benefit.
In the 28th minute this was demonstrated when a lapse in concentration by Malton gave the Driffield no8 a clear run unmolested through the midfield to score under the crossbar to make it 10-0 to the Woldsmen.
Play moved up and down the pitch with neither side really threatening another score, but on the stroke of half time the Driffield skipper was shown a yellow card to give Malton something to work on in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
Malton started the second half determined to use the one man advantage to the full and when Poole kicked them to the Driffield 20 metre zone it wasn’t long before Tom Barker was able to get over for a try which arrived after several phases camped on the whitewash and patience was rewarded with 7 points on 48 minutes.
Malton now well and truly on top up front rotating props to suit the situation were now in a position to take the game by the scruff.
However despite the efforts of young Stephenson on the wing and the efforts of the dependable Hughes at no8 there were a number of inaccuracies at critical times, notably off a crash ball when quick 2nd phase ball found the winger reaching for the ball delivered to his toecaps.
Driffield added to their score on 52 minutes when they changed 2 of their front row whose fresh legs gave the impetus to their scrummaging and set up position for a 7 pointer.
On 55 minutes Malton were forced into a reorganisation when Poole’s dead leg forced an early exit and Bulmer took the 10 shirt with Sandow coming off the bench at 9.
The game ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes with neither side having a clear advantage and the stalemate was ended when on 65 minutes Malton chose to convert a penalty to put a bonus point on the board.
The final 15 minutes were played out in the gloom with Malton marginally on top but failing to find the gaps to score and secure what would have been a well-earned draw.
This tight knit squad if not careful could be known as one for whom success is elusive, which would not be deserved, and a tweaking of accuracy and tightening up the lapses in midfield would go a long way to see them turning the corner in the New Year.
Rugby will now have to hold its collective breath and hope that the next 3 weeks do not bring a lockdown and that we can resume on the 8th of January 2022 at home to Heath.
It remains for me to wish all at Malton and Norton a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
MALTON: James Wood, Jacob Stephenson, Ed Lockwood, Tom Foan, Jacob Tweddell, Shane Poole, James Bulmer, Nick Salisbury, Bailey Lamb, Rob Featherstone, Will Dunn, Sean Emms, Tom Barker, Tom Lowry, Will Hughes(c).
Subs: Ted Hughes, Charlie Read, Rhys Sandow, ( all used).
