A fine clear afternoon greeted our visitors from Bradford (3rd in the league) and judging from the blazered numbers who had travelled the 65 miles, a vast amount of time, money, and mileage is consumed in following and watching their team.
Malton kicked off towards the town with the sun in their eyes and in the first minute gave up the first penalty of a game that proved to be a busy one for the referee’s whistle and raised right arm.
In the 6th minute Malton after a strong run from Vasconcelos arrived at the business end and after the first of many straight arm tackle penalties opted for  scrum seven metres out. Four phases later Angus darted over the line.  7-0
From the restart Vasconcelos and Owuor brought the ball forward and with Salem adjudged offside after the tackle a shot at goal was taken from the visitor’s ten metre line which had the legs but just sailed wide. Salem were now starting to earn the referee’s displeasure as they used some not so subtle softening up tactics in the tackle and subsequent loose play.
In only the fifteenth minute Salem’s no13 earned a yellow card for the third dangerous high hit of the afternoon. Malton took the option of a scrum penalty and two minutes later Boothman was hustled over.  14-0
In the 24th minute and still a man down Salem opted for a penalty line out in the home red zone and on the second penalty and same option tied in the defending winger and a simple peel round and score ensued.  14-5
Restored to full numbers the West Riding outfit now pressured the home line with Malton absorbing everything thrown at them for ten minutes but the inevitable score arrived as the visitor’s giant lock forward crashed over.  14-10
With two minutes on the clock from a penalty line out 30 metres out a smart short throw in saw Owuor sprinting down the tramline and a quality cover tackle halted him just one metre short. On the stroke of halftime Salem’s indiscipline and high arms gave up a penalty in front of the uprights for Poole to take the score to 17-10.

To the frustration of Malton’s players and supporters three minutes into the second half Malton gave up 60 metres with two unnecessary penalties and the chance to stretch the lead went begging.
In the 49th minute the visiting no8 was shown yellow for yet another outstretched arm offence which only served to illustrate the stylistic differences in the approach to the game of rugby union by either side. One minute later Malton’s Boothman was carded for the technical offence of hands in the ruck.
Salem now altered their attacking tactics and started close short runs as they spun round in contact to ensure clean delivery to the supporting runner, gaining only a metre or two at a time but very effective in the overall metres gained.
Bell led by example closely followed by several others as tackle after tackle kept the heavyweight attackers at bay.
In the 57th minute Owuor was carded and the visitors with the extra man took full advantage with a 7 pointer.  17-17
Three minutes later with the home side’s old failing again rearing it’s ugly head Salem following a penalty swept down the right flank to score in the corner.  17-22
With the action now moving up and down the park Owuor earned amends as restored to the action he was the beneficiary as the home eight with Hopkins prominent using his size and weight bullied their way over the whitewash with only several minutes remaining.  22-22
A draw might have been a more just result of this pulsating encounter between the sides who at kickoff were in 3rd and 9th place respectively and 14 points apart but the gods had other designs and a penalty in the final minute gave Salem the result that their support cheered long and loud.  22-25
Next week the team will make the journey to 3rd placed Brodleians for a 3.00pm kickoff and if the improvement shown this week follows the same upward curve on the graph a win on the slopes of Hipperholme would be a just reward.
See you there !

MALTON:  Nick Salisbury,  John Vasconcelos,  Ben Boothman,  Will Dunn,  Henry Cornforth,  Olly Owuor,  Tom Lowry,  Sam Triffitt (c),  Paul Angus,  Shane Poole,  Will Bell,  Ben Tenge,  Jacob Stephenson,  Bill Collier,  Ali Fothergill.
Subs(all used):   Peter Hopkins,  Charlie Reed,  James Bulmer.

Scorers:   Angus    1 try
                  Boothman   1 try
                  Owuor   1 try
                  Poole   2 cons  1 pen

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