Malton and Norton RUFC

MALTON IN CONTROL AFTER SLOW START!

James Knock

A look at the full league table shows why this team is in sixth place. Nine try and three losing bonus points places Malton second in this particular column. It demonstrates the importance of a reliable goal kicker and also the try scoring capacity of both forwards and backs as the team are fourth in the “points for” column.
Morley kicked off on a dry firm surface perfect for the time of year. They pressured Malton in the first ten minutes with good line speed penning the home side in their own half. Despite good ball retention it was only in the 13th minute that Malton paid a visit to the Morley 20 metre zone. Once there Malton pressed home the attack but old habits were starting to show! A kick pass that went straight to the Morley winger, and penalties were starting to accumulate.
From one of these penalties Morley missed touch and paid the price with Stephenson catching the ball on his own 20 metre line and carrying through weak Morley resistance to the scoring zone. Three phases later a Featherstone trademark converted try was the reward on 18 minutes.
From the restart Bulmer hoofed Malton up to the Morley 20 metre area and from a scrum the ball was delivered to Fothergill who gaining good ground found his support in the shape of Stephenson who beat 3 men to force his way over the whitewash on 23 minutes for another 7 points.
Six minutes later Morley transgressed in front their posts 25 metres out and skipper Triffitt pointed to the sticks for Bulmer to split them and put Malton in control with the score at 17-0.
Morley now put some possession together and were within 10 metres of the home line on the stand side when a high tackle resulted in a yellow card for Fothergill. The visitors with the extra man made sure of their advantage and on 35 minutes put their winger in for 5 points only.
Malton’s reply was instantaneous with the ball carried upfield by the abrasive Read with Triffitt in support finding the ever present Hughes who trotted in for a 7 pointer and a solid half time lead of 24-5.

Malton changed two players at the break with Bell and Barker giving way to Wood and Lowry.
Morley opened the scoring when a hacked ball caught Malton unawares and a good chase from their 14 and 13 saw the latter dot down for a 7 pointer on 42 minutes.
Four minutes later Malton were back in control and with ball in hand a strong drive from the pack led by Read to the Morley line gave Triffitt the chance to spin off the maul and record another 7 points, to put the score at 31-12.
Moments later Malton had another chance with a strong break from their no15 who unable to connect with the two men outside him went to ground and Morley turning him over raced to the other end of the pitch and scored out wide for 5 points only to make the score 31-17.
At the restart an altercation following a set piece resulted in Malton’s hooker and a Morley player needlessly missing the next 10 minutes as they sat in the cooler.
Malton’s discipline despite an exhortation from their coach was deserting them during this period and another high tackle spoilt yet a further promising field position.
On 65 minutes the game as a contest was put to bed when clean ball from a scrum on the clubhouse touch line 30 metres out was quickly fed by Sandow to Hoggard who passed to Foan and looping round him took the next pass to create the extra man and connected in copybook fashion via Bulmer to his winger Stephenson who like a chieftain tank on exercise on Salisbury plain ran over his opposite number to score the final points of the game in emphatic style.
Morley had one or two chances in the final ten minutes to try and grasp something from the game but in truth they knew that this was a forlorn hope and simple errors resulted in disappointment.
Next week the short journey to neighbours Pocklington who lie in 10 place 7 league point behind awaits the squad and the chance to put the blues of December and the opening week of January firmly behind and set themselves up for the 3 tough home fixtures that are in store for the boys in February.

Malton:  Ali Fothergill,  Jacob Stephenson,  Tom Foan,  James Bulmer, Will Bell,  Tom Hoggard,  Rhys Sandow,  Nick Salisbury,  Bailey Lamb,  Rob Featherstone,  Charlie Read,  Will Dunn,  Will Hughes,  Tom Barker,  Sam Triffitt (c).

Subs:  John Lumley, Tom Lowry, James Wood, (all used).

Scorers:     Featherstone 1 try
                   Stevenson 2 tries
                   Hughes 1 try
                   Triffitt 1 try
                   Bulmer 5 cons, 1 pen.

Marist 15 - 12 Malton & Norton 2s