Malton & Norton 60 - 19 Pocklington
26th November 2022
James Knock
MALTON WIN IN STYLE
In 48 years as a club member I cannot recall such a high win total/margin against our neighbours and rivals. There will be more senior( in age ) members of the club searching their memories and record books this Sunday.
Malton kicked off towards the football end on a dry afternoon with the surface holding up well after a week of heavy rain thanks to the work of all our ground staff.
Recycling the ball speedily on two minutes Malton took play to the visitor’s red zone after a strong run by Fothergill scattering would be tacklers in his wake but he was stopped just short of the line with Rounthwaite on hand to claim a converted try.
Pocklington now entered the game and camped in Malton’s half for ten minutes but stout defence and line speed kept them at bay. They had a chance with a penalty kicked to the corner but the resulting catch and drive came to nothing as the Malton pack shepherded them into touch. Moments later young fly half Jones kicked his team clear of the danger area.
On fifteen minutes with the home pack in control again and a good supply of ball Malton’s second score came with crisp passing down the back division to put a looping Angus in for a self-converted try and the score to 14-0.
Malton did not rest on their laurels and a strong burst from Fothergill together with a clever off load to Stephenson saw the ball delivered to second rower Dunn who cannoned over for another seven points. The offloading and support play was impressive and to the outsider looked instinctive, a tribute to the coaching staff on those dark midweek training sessions.
On 27 minutes Pocklington opened their account with a line out several metres from the limewash and with a regulation catch and drive this time hammered their way over for 7 points.
Malton replied several minutes later pressuring the visitor’s whitewash and driving Rounthwaite over for his second try.
Minutes later Lowry was served with a yellow card and Pocklington now deep in Malton territory suffered an injury having secured a penalty 10 metres out.
After a delay of three minutes thinking Pocklington would go for a corner line out on the clubhouse side their no10 swivelled and punted a perfect ball to the stand side for his winger to stroll over unmolested for 7 points and a score line of 28-14.
The only concern at this stage was that the home side’s bete noir was rearing it’s ugly head, namely the increasing penalty count, but the score line had the game well balanced at half time.
Malton opened the second half taking the kick off back into their 22 metre area but the relieving kick went directly into touch. Moments later after Stone had jackalled and turned over( less the eye popping, backslapping, high fiving, histrionics seen at top level) the kick out of the danger zone missed touch, but Pocklington failed to capitalise on another basic error.
On 50 minutes Hughes was replaced by Vaughan and from a scrum 10 metres from their own line Lockwood made the hard yards, linked with Fothergill who with the abrasive Stephenson in support set off down the park inter passing three times and with Stephenson tackled just short Bell having tracked play from his opposite wing arrived to collect the off load and score as good a try as one could wish to see and 33-14 on the board.
The backs now in their pomp and the forwards supplying quick and plentiful ball with Lockwood demonstrating his skill set including a smart delayed pop pass together with the steadying influence of Foan, ran in 10 more points courtesy of Jones and Stephenson and 43-14 registered on the unlit scoreboard.
Meanwhile Emms and Bell gave way to Read and Tenge respectively.
The home side now unstoppable added another 12 points on 70 and 72 minutes via Fothergill and no8 Stone who backed up for 40 metres and gratefully took the final pass to slide in and earn his forward of the match award.
Pocklington still working hard despite the score line caught Malton’s defence napping and scored on 76 minutes through their midfielder for 5 points only. The final score came via Lockwood showing again his class with another delayed pass to Bell( who had come back on to replace an injured Stephenson minutes earlier ) and he delivered the scoring pass to Jones for his double in the 79th minute.
Next week an enthralling prospect at Scarborough who lie level on point’s one place below.
Malton: Ali Fothergill, Jacob Stephenson, Ed Lockwood, Tom Foan (c), Will Bell, Dylan Jones, Paul Angus, Rob Featherstone, Matt Bowman, Ted Hughes, Sean Emms, Will Dunn, Jamie Rounthwaite, Tom Lowry, Tom Stone.
Subs (all used): Liam Vaughan, Ben Tenge, Charlie Read.
Scorers: Rounthwaite 2 tries.
Angus 1 try, 5 cons.
Dunn 1 try.
Bell 1 try.
Jones 2 tries.
Stevenson 1 try.
Fothergill 1 try.
Stone 1 try.
