Malton and Norton RUFC

WELCOME BACK RUGBY AT THE GANNOCK.

James Knock

Twelve points to Pocklington’s six on leap day 2020 was the last score line at Malton and the last time full contact rugby with scrummaging was played. The following week an unreportable league game was played at Kendal, the last before the cessation of rugby due to the pandemic labelled by some as the “China virus”.

Fast forward 18 months to 19/7/21 and Malton welcomed York to the Gannock for a pre-season warm up game in front of a medium sized crowd.
The arrangement agreed on was to play 4x20 minute periods with subs allowed on at any stage. York arrived with a squad of 27 players to Malton’s 22, which allowed them to refresh the on field squad at regular intervals, a luxury that in the end gave them a slight advantage.

The first 20 minutes saw the two sides take the measure of each other with York’s larger pack giving them plentiful ball for their stand in scrum half former professional player Declan Cusack to control matters. Early penalties did Malton no favours and York used them to gain territory and on 7 minutes a good midfield break was backed up by the 10 to score a 7 pointer.
However Malton’s line out operation was working well and taking some of York’s throw ins kept them in the hunt possession wise and on 19 minutes James Bulmer scored a fine solo try jinking his way over 20 metres to score under the sticks for 7 points.

On 20 minutes York changed 8 of their players and were in control of affairs but failed to take full advantage through their excellent midfield and pacy wingers. This was due to Malton shutting the barn doors in their faces with excellent tackling! But on 35 minutes pressure finally told and York score through their winger for 7 points.
Five minutes later a period of hard won possession gave Malton good position and Will Bell showed his mettle dancing through the York defence and off loading to Shane Pole for a fine converted try to bring half time and a 14 points apiece score line.

On 43 minutes Malton lost skipper Triffitt to a collision injury which saw him wisely leave the pitch.
Malton started winning sufficient ball to try all the moves that coach Crockett has been drilling into them and a combination of swift and wide miss passes, straight strong running from Jacob Stephenson demonstrated the potential of this currently small squad.

York were now using more of the 27 squad members to refresh at regular intervals  and it showed with 2 scores at 45 and 55 minutes to lead 28 points to 14.
The last 20 minutes were a tough ask for Malton with York pressing but failing to turn the screw through a combination of the home side’s stout defence and also York finding touch instead of the wingers with their passes.

As Malton’s two props left the field having done sterling work, no replacement props on the bench meant the last 15 minutes saw uncontested scrums.
Malton had the last word with York failing to play to the whistle and expecting play to stop for an imaginary infringement but Jacob Head carried on to score a 7 pointer bringing proceedings to a close and the final score of 28-21 in York’s favour.

Our thanks go to York for choosing rugby above all that the Knavesmire has to offer and both clubs will have learnt something from the evening. We wish them luck in the division above.
Malton must look to enlarge their squad, take advantage of the fresh ideas brought in by the new coach and encourage the 2nd and 3rd team members to train where possible which will have a knock on effect to the success of the coming season.

I trust the club chairman has instructed the Director of Rugby to implement the plans that are surely in place to promote the playing side of the club now that COVID is under control and the search for fresh blood is presumably under way.
The league fixtures commence on September 4th 15.00 hrs
at Moortown which is only 60 minutes car ride from Malton. COME AND SUPPORT YOUR CLUB.

The following represented the club this evening.
Rob Featherstone, Bailey Lamb, Nick Salisbury, Jamie Rounthwaite, Sean Emms, Tom Lowry, Sam Triffitt, Will Hughes, Shane Poole, James Bulmer, Will Bell, Miles Duncan, Jacob Stephenson, Jacob Head, Ali Fothergill, John Ordidge, Tom Hoggard, Tom Barker, Charlie Read, Tom Smith, Jacob Tweddle, Will Hicks.

And last but not least our thanks to referee John Hill.