MALTON FALL AT FINAL HURDLE
James Knock
Even with a 5.00pm kick off the temperature in the concrete bowl at Darlington Mowden Park was in the early twenties and the worn surface at times resembled a dried out desert oasis.
Lutterworth sported a strip which demonstrated the connections to a neighbouring premiership outfit, and indeed in the stand taking notes was a gentleman who had the previous evening come off the bench for the Tigers in Manchester.
Malton in their final appearance in the anniversary strip were shorn of one or two players who for varying reasons could not make the trip.
Lutterworth set of at pace and in the third minute demonstrated one or two of the weapons in their armoury. Quality and swift supply of ball was shipped wide at speed and a break inside with good offload was spoilt with a simple knock on as the line beckoned.
In the first nine minutes Malton were trapped in their half and gave up the odd turnover, the frequency of which increased as the half ticked by. However in the tenth minute Angus took a quick tap penalty and set off with one or two forwards in support but Vaughan one of the above, finding himself isolated was jackalled and turned over with Lutterworth free to sweep downfield and gassing several defenders they put their no14 over in the corner. 0-7
Moments later a good break by Fothergill was compromised with crossing as the move looked promising. On fifteen minutes the elusive twisting and turning Tenge who throughout was a constant live wire found himself isolated and the turnover counter clicked another digit.
In the nineteenth minute a penalty was awarded after yet another jackal and turnover and was slotted between the uprights. 0-10
One minute later the impressive Lutterworth backs broke upfield and cruised past the line of defence to set up the ever present supporting man on the shoulder who strolled over. 0-17
In the twenty third minute this burst of scoring was rounded off by Malton’s opening score as Wainwright and Triffitt combined to set up Lowry and send the score to 7-17.
In the thirty second minute the Lutterworth no15 finished a move by rounding his opposite no to restore their seventeen point advantage. 7-24
Two minutes later following a perfect Bulmer long penalty kick to the corner the flat hard throw in went to Emms at 2 in the line out but the resulting drive was held short of the whitewash. Two phases later Vaughan was driven over for his first try of the season. 14 -24
However just on the stroke of halftime the isolated Foan was turned over for the tenth jackal and steal of the half and the penalty award was pragmatically sent over the crossbar from 25 metres out. 14-27
A slight breeze and an early evening drop in temperature made conditions slightly easier for the thirty men on the pitch, and Malton set off with intent after a Bulmer break and Angus was sent over in minute forty two. 21-27
Malton now made the first of their changes with Owuor replacing Collier.
Lutterworth’s reply wasn’t long in coming and three minutes later they took a pot at goal from Malton’s ten metre line to extend the lead once again to a two score margin. 21-30
Minutes later as Lutterworth broke through with a lucky hack through and as Malton’s no15 bravely went down to recover the ball it went forward and scooping it up they had a choice of three players to score in the corner. 21-35
By now the Lutterworth defence had worked out the only way to contain the irrepressible Tenge was to put a minimum of two tacklers onto him and bringing him to earth gained another turnover penalty.Vaughan was given a generous round of applause for his shift at the coal face as veteran Gwilliam made his entrance.
In the sixtieth minute Malton after a period of probing the opposition red zone drove Lowry over for a seven pointer. 28-35
Again the reply was instantaneous as Lutterworth pressured the Malton line and gained and kicked a penalty to restore the two score margin. 28-38
Both sides made further changes to replace hot ,tired bodies and the final five minutes were a catalogue of basic errors by both sides as exhaustion took over but Lutterworth sealed their deserved defence of this Papa John Regional 2 North plate with a penalty in the final minute. 28-41
Today’s game rounded off a long and arduous season and the player awards evening next Friday will be the place to look back, reflect and reward all those in the whole of the club who have made this season a memorable one as the playing section of this 70th anniversary year draws to a close.
MALTON: Ali Fothergill, Archie Johnson, Jacob Stephenson, Tom Foan, Billy Collier, James Bulmer, Paul Angus, Liam Vaughan, John Vasconcelos, Sam Triffitt (c), Will Dunn, Sean Emms, Ben Ten, Tom Lowry, Ted Wainwright.
Subs: Tom Ray, Ed Gwilliam, Charlie Read, Ed Browne, Ollie Owuor, Peter Hopkins, Henry Cornforth. (all used)
Scorers: Lowry 2 tries
Vaughan 1 try
Angus 1 try
Bulmer 4 cons
