Malton and Norton RUFC

By James Knock

A mild autumnal day with no rain and a surface that had been carefully prepared by groundsman Bob Woodhouse despite all that the weather had thrown at him during the week greeted our visitors from Halifax.
Malton kicked off towards the town and it wasn’t long before the visiting no10 gave notice of his intentions and capabilities chipping through the defence and collecting a good bounce and 2 or 3 passes later going over himself.  0-7
Three minutes later a well-read intercept by Bulmer on halfway took play to the visitor’s red zone and running out of gas he delivered a scoring pass that unfortunately went to ground. On twelve minutes ahead on head contact involving Lowry resulted in a yellow card for the powerfully built visiting offender and Bulmer duly slotted the 3 points.  3-7

With territory split evenly but possession slightly in the visitors favour an intriguing first half was in prospect.
In the 23rd minute the Crossleyan’s fly half attempted one chip kick too many which was collected by Stephenson who beating a man ran 30 metres and as the cover reached him with the line at his mercy unselfishly slipped a pass to Foster who strode over.  10-7

There followed a period of kick tennis which after half a dozen exchanges was won conclusively by the visitors who gained 30 metres and a throw in.

On 30 minutes the inform Lowry pressured the visiting no9 to win a turnover but the resulting ambitious penalty kick to touch did not cross the line.
Moments later a home throw in 20 metres out from the visitor’s whitewash was well caught and brought down but during the transfer to the back of the driving maul the ball was knocked on and another opportunity went begging.
A few niggling inaccuracies were creeping into the home team’s performance and with half time beckoning after yet more kick tennis a poorly placed high ball was gratefully collected by the visiting back three and run back with interest as ball in hand they swept up field to put the winger in for a 7 pointer.  10-14

Malton rang the changes at halftime introducing Featherstone for some grunt at the coal face and a heavily strapped Barker whose speed around the park has been missing for two games. Sadly he lasted only 2 minutes before he was helped off the pitch.
Proceedings opened with Boothman on the charge at top speed and covering 20 metres rapidly he was isolated and momentum was lost. On 50 minutes Poole was introduced at fullback with Bell giving way and Johnson slotting into the midfield. The effect was immediate as Poole started to probe the touch lines with some intelligent, accurate, pinpoint kicking bouncing the ball into touch for territory.
It wasn’t long before the forwards now on the front foot more often and making the gain line every time were camped on the visitor’s line and the result was a Boothman try from close range with the extras added by Poole.  17-14
Crossleyans replied breaking through the home defence with a big second rower who supplied the no10 with a straightforward run in and 7 points to complete his side’s tally for the afternoon on 57 minutes.  17-21
Malton’s forwards now upped their game and with the visiting eight showing signs of fatigue a steady supply of ball was laid on for the backs to open their legs and display their wares.
In minute 59 after a forward drive to the visitor’s red zone the ball was delivered to the above mentioned who sent Johnson over breaking a tackle and diving for the line.  22-21
Six minutes later a punch up the middle by the Malton pack at full throttle gave Bulmer the chance to show and shimmy his way towards the whitewash and deliver the pass for another Johnson try.  29-21
The visitors were desperately trying to move the action to the home end but inaccurate kicking only resulted in giving ball away and Stephenson returned one of these kicks bursting up the touch line and tackled just short flicked the ball up for Poole to stride over and then to add the extras off the touch line.  36-21
With 4 minutes to go Crossleyans collected their second yellow of the game, their hooker departing the field, and after 3 successive penalties all taken as scrums by Malton the ball was delivered to Foster who beat some tired, dispirited would be tacklers to complete the scoring 43-21 and deliver the 5 league points which takes Malton to 4th in the table and 7 points behind the leaders.
No game next week gives the boys opportunity to nurse any injuries, train together and plan for the trip to Goole who are one place and point ahead.
See you all in two weeks’ time!

Malton:  Nick Salisbury,  John Vasconcelos,  Ben Boothman,  Will Dunn,  Darren Leggott,  Tom Lowry,  Charlie Reed,  Sam Triffitt (c),  Paul Angus,  James Bulmer,  Jacob Stephenson,  Blair Foster,  Will Bell,  Javan Upton,  Archie Johnson.

Subs; Rob Featherstone, Tom Barker, Shane Poole (all used).
Scorers:  Foster    2 tries
                 Boothman   1 try
                 Johnson   2 tries
                 Bulmer   1 pen  1 con

                 Poole   1 try & 4 cons