FOUR TRIES APIECE THRILLER AT THE GANNOCK.
James Knock
Ladies Day at Malton was attended by over one hundred of the fairer sex who having partaken of a splendid lunch witnessed an enthralling and entertaining game of rugby football.
Two other notable guests were in attendance, Ryedale MP Kevin Hollindrake no doubt hovering over his phone as I write after this morning’s developments at Westminster! Also in the crowd former club skipper Dave “Clapper” Whitehouse making the long journey from Skegness.
Our visitors from Moortown who through judicious hiring of the 4G pitch at close neighbours Yarnbury every Tuesday for training and also on the weekend when everywhere else in the league was frost bound arrived match fit with no games lost to the weather.
Moortown kicked off playing towards the football end and put early pressure on Malton with a kick chase up to the home red zone. Early warning was given of the speed of the visitor’s back division. Malton worked their way out of their half and spent the next 20 minutes camped in the visitor’s half and with the pack bossing proceedings it was only a matter of time before the opening score.
On 12 minutes a penalty under the Moortown sticks was taken quickly by Tenge who was stopped just short. Three minutes later after a set scrum and 3 phases a good line cut by Rounthwaite taking a pop pass saw him stroll over for 5 points only.
On resumption an accurate kick pass from Bulmer found Tenge who made good ground but his offload to a supporting back lacked accuracy and the chance went begging.
Minutes later Lockwood spinning out of a couple of tackle attempts and thus tying in the defence offloaded to a looping Angus who delivered a perfect pass to Tenge. He duly galloped over for a well worked unconverted try in the 21st minute.
Moortown now entered the game and coming through a ruck picked up an unguarded ball which was fed to their pacey no11 who had a clear run and dotted down under the home uprights on minute 27 for 7 points.
Four minutes later whilst Malton’s defenders were busily involved in a minor fracas the visiting no8 strode through under the posts unmolested for another 7 points.
Four points down and the bright start from Malton was turned firmly on its backside. However in the 38th minute Malton changing kickers opted to kick a penalty from just inside the visitor’s 10 metre line. Angus stepped up to the mark and with plenty to spare split the posts and Malton were back in the hunt.
Disappointment followed 2 minutes later when from a similar distance the Moortown no6 replied with distance to spare and the halftime score displayed on Malton’s back up telegraph read 13-17 to the visitors.
Three minutes into the second half Malton trapped in their 22 metre area laid a scrambled ball back for their fly half to clear who looked to have miscued his clearing kick to touch. The ball ended up in the visiting 11’s hands and from 30 metres out he again displayed his wares looping round and through several defenders to score his second converted try.
Six minutes later a penalty for holding on was stroked over taking the score to 13-27 and Moortown looking like a side in firm control and justifying top place in the league.
On 55 minutes a visit to the visitor’s half earned a penalty duly converted by Angus to reduce the margin but 3 minutes later a knock on by Malton was picked up by the visiting no15 who chipped through and won the foot race for another 7 points leaving Malton staring into the abyss at 16-34.
Now time for Malton to display the guts that have earned them 3rd place in the league and digging deep the forwards now drove up to the Moortown line and on minute 64 with the visitors down to 14 men courtesy of a yellow card Bulmer sold one of his outrageous dummies and ghosted or glided, maybe both, through the gap for 7 points.
Eight minutes later a Triffitt pick up at the base of a set scrum fooled the defence as he switched direction and fed Bulmer who again dummied and shimmied his way over for another 7 points and the score now 30-34 with Moortown slightly ruffled.
The visitors held on and had the last word with a penalty in the 75th minute to earn a close run win which delighted their somewhat enthusiastic and vociferous supporters who can now probably look forward to life in the league above and renewing acquaintances with old friends Cleckheaton and Heath.
Next week we host Selby at the Gannock and trust they have recovered from their sad loss suffered earlier in the season.
I look forward to seeing another large crowd, please set your recorders and view boxes and watch the 6 nations on your return to the comforts of a warm armchair and fire at home!
Malton: Ali Fothergill, Ben Tenge, Ed Lockwood, Tom Foan, Jacob Stephenson, James Bulmer, Paul Angus, Liam Vaughan, Nick Salisbury, Rob Featherstone, Will Dunn, Charlie Reed, Jamie Rounthwaite, Tom Lowry, Sam Triffitt (c).
Subs: all used. Stu Collins, Archie Armitage, Tom Barker.
Scorers: Rounthwaite 1 try
Tenge 1 try
Bulmer 2 tries,
Angus 2 cons, 2 Pens.
