MALTON EARN FIRST WIN AT SCATCHERD LANE.
James Knock
The pitch at Scatcherd Lane is the largest in size in Regional 2 North East and so provided the perfect opportunity for Malton to demonstrate to their coach that they have benefited from his input and instructions on those cold dark training nights in November, December, and January. It has also proved to be fallow ground for Malton thus far.
The visitors received the kick off and a mistake compounded by coughing up a penalty gave Morley the opening score in under a minute. 0-3.
The big home pack soon showed their mettle with early possession but an over cooked kick to touch just outside their 22 metre line gave Malton position and earning a penalty in the fourth minute they drew level.
Bowman received the restart and made several hard metres with his leg drive and linked with Fothergill who set Stephenson up but the defence bundled him into touch just a few metres short.
On ten minutes midfielder Foan received a head wound and left the pitch to be patched up resulting in Bowman moving from hooker to centre and an early introduction for prop Featherstone.
The next 10 minutes turned into a kicking duel with play going up and down the park as well as side to side on the roomy pitch until a sudden change of tactics from Stephenson who running back at the hosts and linking with several supporting players set Bell up for the final few metres and he grabbed the opportunity to jink his way to the whitewash for 7 points and a 10-3 lead in the 20th minute.
Morley replied instantly with 4 minutes of constant pressure in Malton’s red zone and their reward came with their no5 crashing over to take the score to 10 apiece.
Two minutes later Malton drove to the Morley line and sent Salisbury crashing over for a 7 pointer.
Ten minutes of end to end rugby ensued with Morley using their heavy and mobile back row to good effect and in the 36th minute Malton running out of defence were stripped of the ball in the tackle and the home winger was the beneficiary skipping down the touch line and round in under the uprights to bring the score to 17-17 and shortly thereafter the sound of the half time whistle.
To the casual observer these were two evenly matched outfits with a willingness to use the full width of the pitch.
For the visitors a feature of this first half was the defensive tackling led by Bell and his effective chop tackles with Lowry not far behind him in the tackle count.
The second half opened with Malton losing their stand in midfielder Bowman for ten minutes who had used colourful and intemperate language in an altercation with the referee.
Morley tried to utilise the numerical advantage but again last ditch tackling kept them at bay. On 60 minutes Malton reshuffled their resources bringing on their remaining subs and restoring a patched up Foan to the midfield.
With the large home pack now tiring and losing their shape Malton kept their collective toes on the throttle and in the 65th minute sent Featherstone burrowing over nose first for a trademark try from, and I will be generous here, all of 2 metres out to put his side back in front 22-17.
Morley were now giving up a few penalties in their search for a break out and from one of these Angus slotted over a regulation 3 points and his side two scores ahead at 25 points to 17 in the 70th minute.
Malton now in total control completed the scoring In minute 77 when after several attempts Bowman who had grafted hard all afternoon in his two positions forced his way over the line to complete the scoring and earn the try bonus point and give Malton a first win at this particular venue, home to a famous Yorkshire club founded in 1878.
Next week we are at home to Old Crossleyans and the rumour mill is that there is only one promotion place and likewise at the demotion end of the league, so with games in hand on the first and second placed clubs there is still plenty to play for and as it is six nations rest week a full crowd should be the order of the day. See you at the Gannock!
Malton: Ali Fothergill, Ben Tenge, Will Bell, Tom Foan, Jacob Stephenson, James Bulmer, Paul Angus, Archie Armitage, Matt Bowman, Nick Salisbury, Jamie Rounthwaite, Charlie Read, Tom Barker, Tom Lowry, Sam Triffitt(c).
Subs (all used). Ryan Donaghy, Will Dunn, Rob Featherstone.
Scorers: Angus 2 pens 2 cons
Bell 1 try
Salisbury 1try
Featherstone 1try
Bowman 1try
