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Malton travelled the much disrupted route over the Pennines to Rochdale in the North West to contest this eagerly awaited opening game of the season in the league titled North East 2 wearing the regular club colours again and introducing 4 former colts to senior league rugby.
Rochdale from the kickoff blitzed Malton in the first 12 minutes with 19 points on minutes 2, 5, and 12 with Malton guilty of some poor positioning, tackling and with early scant possession poor passing. Rochdale in contrast used their pacy right winger to good effect. 0-19
Club coach Alex Crockett alone in the technical area (dugout) calmed his charges and during the next 20 minutes Malton entered the game with the pack taking control and in minute 16 posted their opening score with an onslaught on the Rochdale whitewash resulting in Vasconcelos being smuggled over the line for 7 points. 7-19
Rochdale whose no10 doubles as coach and has played at a higher level now demonstrated the difference in speed of ball transfer down his backs with the wingers getting plenty of space and time over the next 10 minutes but good covering from all the back division kept them at bay.
In the 25th minute Malton’s young Collier displayed his pace with a try converted by the dependable Poole. 14-19
Malton’s loose forwards were now starting to dominate, Lowry and Read in the vanguard with Triffitt, Vasconcelos and Owuor in close attendance. In the 28th minute a long pass from Bulmer bounced kindly for Fothergill who made good metres and recycled clean quick ball with the subsequent possession taken over the line only to be adjudged held up.
With half time approaching Malton were caught offside 22 metres out in front of the sticks and Rochdale pragmatically took the 3 points on offer on the stroke of halftime. 14-22
Malton opened the second half on the front foot with Stephenson and Fothergill taking on their opposite no’s and a minor skirmish in the 46th minute resulted in a Rochdale yellow card. One minute later from a kick to the corner Browne was bundled over from the line out and game very much on. 19-22
However and there often is a however, Malton gifted the home side 7 points in the 50th minute with some non-existent tackling. 19-29
Mistakes in midfield now crept into the Malton game and Rochdale found a bit more confidence and as a result started to control affairs with their fly half dictating their game plan.
Against the run of play with Malton briefly at the Rochdale end the hosts gave up a penalty which Poole stroked over, 22-29 to leave Malton needing 7 points to at least tie the game with 17 minutes on the clock.
The host’s answer to that scenario came swiftly with a well taken winger’s try converted from wide out in the 65th minute. 22-36
This was followed 10 minutes later with a lucky bounce off a post protector falling into a grateful Rochdale lap for him to simply flop over the line and 7 points. 22-43 and the game effectively put to bed.
Malton to their credit kept playing to the end in search of a try bonus point and with time running out scored at the final whistle via Lowry to claim that deserved bonus point but on reflection Rochdale were worthy winners on the day. 29-43
Next week at the Gannock we entertain Scarborough and the club with lunch fully booked expect a capacity crowd.
See you there for a 3.00 pm kick off.
MALTON: Nick Salisbury, John Vasconcelos, Peter Hopkins, Eddie Browne, Charlie Read, Oliver Owuor, Tom Lowry, Sam Triffitt (c), Paul Angus, James Bulmer, Ali Fothergill, Jacob Stephenson, Tom Ray, Bill Collier, Shane Poole.
Subs: (all used) Harry Alngohuro, Rohan Simpson, Rob Featherstone.
Scorers: Vasconcelos 1 try
Collier 1 try
Browne 1 try
Lowry 1 try
Poole 3 cons 1 pen
