Malton and Norton RUFC

MALTON FIGHT BACK IN SECOND HALF.

James Knock

Malton’s travelling support was thin on the ground, several regulars choosing to groom and prepare themselves for the delights of an evening in the company of Jason Leonard OBE at the Gannock. They missed the chance to watch their team fight back in a gritty contest in the Spring sunshine at Morpeth’s delightful ground.
Morpeth kicked off but Malton spilled the ball and using the territory gained the host’s 10 and 14 inter passed and created a quality try for the fly half.
Malton recovered their composure and moved into into Morpeth’s half but good tackling and a couple of turn overs kept the visitors at bay for fifteen minutes.
On twenty minutes a penalty kick to the corner put Malton in the red zone and the home defence initially kept them out. Fothergill took the ball up to the five metre line, the forwards recycled at speed and gave Angus the time and space to dummy and shimmy his way over for 7 points, and put his side in the game.
Morpeth now showed why they have advanced steadily up from the nether regions of the league table with three quality tries on 29, 36, and 40 minutes for 17 points to lead at the interval 24-7. Their no8 led the way demonstrating the ability to carry in one hand, using the other to good effect handing off and together with some canny offloads was instrumental in their scores.
The runes did not read well at this stage of the game and acting coach Richard John at half time encouraged and settled his charges at half time, making two important changes for the second half, throwing on the two substitutes available, both prop forwards. The effect was immediate.
Malton drove down to the host’s end and Bell took a quick tap penalty but was jackalled on the line in the 43rd minute. Malton kept up the pressure and following a line out several metres out that Morpeth chose not to contest Rounthwaite was driven over on 50 minutes to put Malton back in the frame 12-24.
Malton’s forwards were now in control and a penalty on 60 minutes just sailed wide of the posts. In only his second appearance in the first team young midfielder Barratt now showed his mettle with a good catch and delivered a well timed pass to Bell who set off with side step and dummies to the Morpeth line but the try scoring pass was read and  intercepted and punted down the touch line. Skipper Triffitt now demonstrated his all round credentials by covering right across the pitch and putting his boot to the ball saved a certain score which would have probably sealed the game there and then for the hosts.
Malton now appeared to get the wrong side of the veteran referee and gave up several penalties on the trot, two of which Morpeth converted choosing pragmatism before chance bringing the score to 30-12 in their favour.
Malton kept their heads and another surge to the home whitewash saw Emms crash over from short range (in his mind at least 15 metres out) for a 7 pointer on 72 minutes taking the score to 19 -30.
The hunt was now on for a possible losing bonus point but the referee intervened with the award of a supposedly high tackle penalty against Malton which the home side put into the corner. Malton kept them out and kicked their way out of trouble in what was the final act of the game.
Next week the penultimate home game of the season with Ilkley the visitors and the chance to show our appreciation for the boys as they come towards the end of a long campaign.

Malton:   Ali Fothergill,  Will Bell,  Caleb Barrat,  Tom Foan,  Jacob Stephenson,  James Bulmer,  Paul Angus,  Nick Salisbury,  Bailey Lamb,  John Lumley,  Jamie Rounthwaite,  Sean Emms,  Will Hughes,  Thomas Lowry,  Sam Triffitt (c).

Subs:   Rob Featherstone,  Liam Vaughan,  (both used).

Scorers:  Angus  1 try
                Rounthwaite  1 try
                Emms  1 try
                Bulmer  2 cons.