NO REWARDS AT DRONFIELD
It is not very often especially at our level in the league structure that a pack utterly dominant at scrum time for 80 minutes come away unrewarded.
However the above statement should not disguise the fact that our hosts were superior in most other departments and the long journey to our hosts in Derbyshire is perhaps rather a narrow shield to hide behind.
A midweek injury to talisman skipper Triffitt was a serious blow and with a player or two missing in the backs the task for the squad was always going to be a stiff one. It would be easy to heap criticism on the man who had given up his afternoon to control and adjudicate matters, but - - -
A heavy shower just before kickoff on a short pitch made handling difficult and when Malton received the shallow kick it was put into touch on the full. From the resulting line out the Malton back three were caught napping when a ball was slid through via the boot for a follow up and score out wide well converted in the second minute. 0-7.
At the first set scrum Dronfield were shunted fully 10 metres and Malton advanced to their corner, but on the third phase lost possession and 70 metres of ground.
Dronfield’s backs looked dangerous and were quickly out of the blocks both in attack and defence.
On 20 minutes Dronfield earned a penalty just inside the Malton half and the kicker with the pitch measurements firmly in his head was quick to drill the ball through the uprights. 0-10.
Two minutes later with the rub of the green a rather pale colour in Malton’s favour another 3 points was slotted by the hosts. 0-13.
Malton were giving away technical penalties at scrum time causing itchy scalps to be scratched both on and off the pitch, and on 25 minutes the home tighthead prop scurried off having had enough of a thorough examination by his opposite number. He later in the game resumed his duties noticeably on the other side of the scrum thus proving his versatility.
Malton upped their game with Featherstone keen to get a slice of the action up front, giving Salisbury a well earned break. However the increased pressure did not reap the anticipated rewards.
Malton’s back division’s attacking manoeuvres were nullified by a mixture of wrong choices and a tight home defence and by contrast Dronfield’s three quarters gained metres every time with clever footwork, pace, and astute kicking.
Half time couldn’t come soon enough to gather thoughts and listen to the coach, with the chance to rectify matters playing downhill with the weather at their backs.
From the kickoff Malton camped in the home red zone but gave up yet another penalty to make the aggregate penalty count 3-1 in the host’s favour.
On 50 minutes and 3 penalties later Dronfield chose pragmatism to harvest another 3 points. 0-16.
The Malton eight continued their efforts but reaping any rewards was becoming a distant dream and in the 56th minute another 3 points were posted by the grateful home kicker who by contrast was contemplating Nirvana. 0-19.
The coach now made changes as he hauled Poole to the dugout and switched Bulmer to fly half with Bell sent on to fill the midfield slot.
In the 64th minute 2 successive power scrums on the home line went unrewarded and the expressions on the faces of the visiting front row as they were penalised yet again said it all.
However no side enjoys being beaten without scoring and from a classic, clean line out take by Barker, Loosehead prop Boothman drove over to salvage some pride and bring to a close a puzzling and miserable afternoon for those on and off the pitch who had made the long and tiring journey to our neighbouring county.
Malton: Blair Foster, Javan Upton, Tom Foan (c), James Bulmer, Ali Fothergill, Shane Poole, Paul Angus, Nick Salisbury, John Vasconcelos, Ben Boothman, Darren Leggott, Sean Emms, Tom Barker, Tom Lowry, Liam Vaughan.
Subs: (all used) Rob Featherstone, Will Dunn, Will Bell.
Scorer: Boothman 1 try
