HEAT AT THE SEASIDE
James Knock
With five changes in the match squad from last week Malton travelled to third placed Brid in the knowledge that a competitive game was on the cards.
The hosts kicked off on a bright and breezy day with as anticipated a good firm surface. In the first ten minutes Malton were on a par with the home side, both sets of forwards moving the play up and down the area between the 22 metre lines, but Malton ominously could not penetrate the home defence.
Malton’s discipline was found wanting in the tenth minute and two successive penalties were given up. Brid immediately took control and two phases after the penalty line out forced their way over for 7 points.
It was now time for Brid’s discipline to suffer and with Malton in the host’s red zone the referee lost no time in stamping his authority on the game. Two cynical interferences by Brid defenders close to the whitewash resulted in two yellow cards in the 15th and 17th minutes being brandished in the faces of 2 back rowers. The referee had no option but to move under the sticks and award a penalty try.
Malton now inexplicably lost all composure and with Brid down to 13 men gave up two tries one converted in the 22nd and 29th minute. During this period Malton lost midfielder Foan with a dislocated rib and Stark was introduced to plug the gap. On top of this Malton were suffering in the close quarter exchanges, a dominant and mobile home pack ruling the roost.
Late on in this first half the Brid 10 from a penalty used a drop kick that went low and hard bouncing end over end and gave Malton nightmares fielding it close to the touch line. From the knock forward Brid moved the ball down their three quarter line and a two man tackle resulted in a yellow for Bowman who had taken the top half of the attacker. The reaction of the home supporters was reminiscent of a scene from “Gladiator” in the Circus Maximus.
Brid took immediate advantage and moving the ball wide sauntered in at the corner to lead 24-7 in the 38th minute.
Malton now gave a glimpse of their capabilities with a Bulmer show and dummy of the ball and a good break darting through the gap he had opened he linked up with Dunn who as he was tackled off loaded to Weatherill to score on the stroke of half time and give Brid a twelve point lead 24-12.
This score line rather flattered Malton and the Brid pack with props Ron Tuialii and Vili Fangupo leading the way the task for the visitors looked to be an uphill one at best.
The second half opened with Malton on the defensive and with communication at line out time between jumpers and thrower in proving erratic, vital possession was given up to a now rampant Brid pack. Malton were being out muscled in most departments.
In the 50th minute Malton’s 10 kicked out on the full and from the resulting line out Brid attacked and a kick down the tram lines was not fielded cleanly and the hosts swept through for 7 points.
Brid now opened the throttle and scoring at will added 17 more points with three
tries, one converted, in the 53rd, 59th,and 65th minute and looking ominously like collecting a half century.
In the remaining time Malton had sufficient ball to be constructive but flinging the ball about with gay abandon and knocking on at will only compounded the misery and exposed their lack of discipline.
However they had enough in the tank to keep Brid out and salvage some pride when in the 76th minute a clever grubber kick was put through for Rounthwaite hanging out wide to pounce and claim 5 points and a final score line of 48-17 to the hosts.
A chastening day for Malton which with Moortown’s win at the Bees sees them swapping places with Malton at the top of the table.
A two week break gives Alex Crockett and his squad time to address some of today’s problems in time for the visit of newcomers to the league Dronfield currently 6th in the table and 6 points behind Malton’s tally of 19 points but with a game in hand.
Malton: Dylan Jones, Josh Weatherill, Jacob Stephenson, Tom Foan, Will Bell, James Bulmer, Paul Angus, Nick Salisbury, Ryan Donaghy, Liam Vaughan, Charlie Read, Will Dunn, Matt Bowman, Jamie Rounthwaite, Sam Triffitt(c).
Subs(all used), Rob Featherstone, Ted Hughes, Callum Stark.
Scorers: Penalty Try
Weatherill 1 try
Rounthwaite 1 try
