MALTON WIN EXTENDS SEASON
James Knock
Despite the long journey our visitors Stockton started off this second round Papa John cup tie with a bang and the opening five minutes was all about their pressure on a Malton side shorn of several regulars. An intercept by Angus in the fifth minute for 5 points only was against the run of play. 5-0
This score settled the home side and their forwards now came into the game. In the tenth minute a converted try by Triffitt extended the lead and Malton started to look comfortable integrating the new faces. 12-0
In the period round the 25 minute mark Malton were camped on the Stockton red zone, but a season’s bad habits don’t disappear overnight and the penalty given up took that particular count into double figures with only a quarter of the game gone.
However class will always tell and in the 30th minute following a scrum 30 metres out the ball was swiftly delivered to Jones at no10 who called a miss move and delivering to the outside centre looped round and slicing through the defence at speed passed to his winger Matt Jefferson who raced in from 20 metres out, which left a contented smile on the face of coach Crockett in the dugout. 19-0
Five minutes later the Stockton pack showed their potential and 5 minutes hard graft on the home line earned them a deserved try. 19-7
In the 36th minute the first of several yellow cards was flashed in Malton’s direction and Vaughan was the unfortunate recipient. However despite this setback Malton in the 39th minute were awarded a penalty 6 metres out and a set move tap ball was used to send Stephenson over on the stroke of half time. 26-7
Stockton started the second half on the attack directly from the kick off and a good break down the middle of the park came to nothing as a simple pass was put down with nobody at home in defence, but nevertheless it demonstrated the visitors even though 19 points adrift, had ideas up their sleeves. With a man still in the bin Wainwright was shown a yellow card as the fall guy for penalty totting up but Malton managed to hold out till they had 14 in total on the pitch.
However in the 55th minute still one man down the pressure told and Stockton made the score 26-14.
Three minutes later Malton’s young fly half ripped the ball out in the tackle which went backwards and bounced kindly for him and spinning round with 30 metres to go he set off for the Stockton line, beat a couple of defenders, chipped the last man and with another kind bounce collected and scored under the posts for a fine individual try. 33-14
Moments later discipline or rather the lack of it again reared its ugly head and skipper Triffitt trudged to the side-lines with a yellow card to his name.
With 20 minutes left on the clock the visiting no10 brushed aside some tepid defence to score 33-21 and from a position of strength at the interval Malton were left staring down the barrel of a gun.
In the 65th minute the visitors now scenting a possible result in their favour swept downfield and it was thanks to good covering work by no8 Wainwright that another score was prevented. On 70 minutes Malton were at the other end but once again gave up a penalty as they were pressing and the visitors cleared their lines once again.
With the game finely balanced Stephenson chose the time to collect Malton’s fourth yellow card of the game and in so doing put his side under extreme duress as Stockton threw everything at the home red zone and went over for a 7 pointer in the dying seconds of proceedings. 33-28
Next weekend is a very busy one for the club as the Cup quarter final sees the club drawn away at old acquaintances Morpeth next Saturday 3.00pm kickoff.
There is a big bus booked on Saturday for anyone wanting to travel up.
And on the Sunday the Colts are in their final against West Leeds at Doncaster 2.45 pm kickoff.
Sunday there is two buses heading over to Doncaster, Andrew Walker the colts team manager is taking bookings. andrew.maltonrugby@gmail.com
MALTON: Sam Triffitt, Nick Salisbury, Liam Vaughan, Jack Knaggs, Henry Cornforth, Olly Owuor, Tom Lowry, Ted Wainwright, Paul Angus, Jack Jones, Matt Jefferson, Jacob Stephenson, Archie Johnson, Bill Collier, Ali Fothergill.
Subs: (all used) Rob Featherstone, Pete Hopkins, Byron Marshall, George Turnbull.
Scorers: Angus 1 try, 4 cons
Triffitt 1 try
Jefferson 1 try
Stephenson 1 try
Jones 1 try
