A still warm afternoon greeted our visitors Doncaster Phoenix for this bottom of the table clash with both outfits looking to rise from the ashes of the opening three games of the season.
Malton kicked off towards the town and with an early turnover and feed to Packer he immediately made good ground down his wing. From the position gained Malton set up phase ball close to the whitewash and skipper Triffitt was the beneficiary of the opening score in the 5th minute. 7-0
The home side now picked up the pace and demonstrated to the small crowd the capabilities that had been missing early season. Owuor led by example showing his undoubted potential taking ball, making good metres, and laying back clean quick possession. In the 11th minute Angus spotted a gap and darted through for a simple 7 points. 14-0
Phoenix now entered the game and with increasing possession won a kicking contest resulting in a throw in 25 metres out and 2 phases later slack tackling allowed their midfielder to register their opening score. 14-7
In the 20th minute Malton were back in the visitor’s red zone with Jones showing his class as he sliced through the Phoenix midfield at will to set up Dunn for a converted try. 21-7
Malton now reverted to type giving up a series of penalties and received a warning from the referee. From a quick tap which caught the home side napping a visiting prop crashed over. 21-14
With the home side’s penalty count still on an upward curve another quickly taken tap from 30 metres out saw the visitor’s right winger rounding his man, giving the scoring pass to his supporting no 9 who motored in close to the sticks. 21-21
Four minutes later with Malton in the Phoenix red zone, a strong run from Fothergill ended with him ignoring the two man overlap and ducking inside the recycled ball was delivered to Emms (making his 200th first team appearance) as he was catching his breath lurking on the touch line and he strolled over for a 7 pointer and the half time lead. 28-21
With injuries to the 3 listed props at differing intervals Malton had to shuffle the pack and moved the uncomplaining Triffitt to the front three with Fothergill slotting in at no8 and Fletcher coming of the bench. Later in the half a patched up Hopkins came back on as Salisbury limped off thus avoiding the unsatisfactory spectacle of uncontested scrums.
In the 53rd minute Stephenson was removed from the fray after what looked suspiciously like a no arms tackle resulted in a sore head.
As Malton were still reorganising their resources Phoenix swept downfield and put their winger over in the corner only to be called back for a very marginal forward pass decision. The visitors during this spell had been making all the running as Malton were discombobulated by the shuffling of their resources.
Now gathering themselves together in the 60th minute the home side camped on the visitor’s line but white line fever saw them denied several times. After a short period of see saw action up and down the park Jones carved his way through several defenders to link up with Packer who sprinted to the line. 35-21
Phoenix now seeking to get something out of what had been a finely balanced encounter so far, ran every scrap of possession but on his seasonal debut Bell took a smart 35 metre interception, ignited the afterburners, and the resulting 7 points effectively put the game to bed, 42-21 in the 75th minute.
The Phoenix heads to their credit did not drop as they looked for two quick scores and 2 league points and in the 77th minute collected one of them with a converted try wide out.
With the final whistle imminent Poole kicked a penalty in front of the uprights to post a valuable 100% off the tee with a final score of 45-28 and a move up the league table to 9th place.
Next week is the first enforced break and in a fortnight the boys will reassemble at Pontefract.
However next week the 2nd and 3rd strings are both slated for action at the Gannock and will surely welcome your support.
MALTON: Pete Hopkins, John Vasconcelos, Nick Salisbury, Will Dunn, Sean Emms (200) Henry Cornforth, Olly Owuor, Sam Triffitt (c), Paul Angus, Shane Poole, Will Bell, Jacob Stephenson, Jack Jones, Alex Packer, Ali Fothergill.
Subs: (all used) Ted Hughes, James Bulmer, Jack Fletcher.
Scorers: Triffitt 1 try
Angus 1 try
Dunn 1 try
Emms 1 try
Packer 1 try
Bell 1 try
Poole 6 cons 1 pen
