Malton & Norton 3s – 24, Goole 3s – 33
Pat Lane
Malton 3s entertained visitors Goole on a special day when the club hosted three visiting senior men’s sides at the Gannock. A sizeable crowd made their way through the security fencing to cheer on Malton against a well drilled and experienced Goole outfit.
Goole showed their experience with a dominant pack and solid defence which had Malton under pressure. Goole only travelled with 14 men and sportingly Malton’s Ben Hickes volunteered to be fifteenth man. Goole’s handling was impressive as they worked up the pitch on several occasions with close in passes between the forwards which was rewarded with a 14-point lead after twenty minutes. Malton are never lacking effort and commitment and the pack lead by captain for the day Phil North defended bravely and in fact when they secured possession, they moved the ball wide to put Goole under pressure. The tireless back row of Ordidge, new recruit Holliday and Hume were in the thick of it ably supported by Smith and North and a solid front row. When half backs Midgley and Palliser could get the ball wide they made some good ground through Davies and Connor Biggins who had an excellent game at full back. However, Goole finished the first half 26 points to nil up and Malton’s half time talk was all about showing some real character in the second half to avoid a rout.
Malton started the second half brightly and the introduction of evergreens, Rob Armitage to centre and James Machin at flanker seemed to spur them on. In addition, Ben Hickes swapped back to Malton colours and continued his impressive display. Goole then suffered another injury but credit to Jake Newsome, Brad Spiller and Matt Calden who all put the Goole shirts on to keep the game alive. Malton forwards were rewarded for their hard work when the hard working back rower Ordidge went over for the first Malton score.
Goole’s pack now appeared to be tiring and they started kicking more but this was excellently dealt with by fullback Biggins who looked to run it back every time and made great yardage. The fullback then scored a try from an excellent back move which outpaced the Goole defence, Palliser made the conversion and now an epic comeback looked a real possibility. In the next passage of play the impressive prop Johnny Pinks crashed over for Maltons third try and it looked like this would be their day. Maltons forwards were now getting on top with Leckonby, Machin, Smith et al continuing to make ground, the ball was spun wide by Midgley to Armitage who in typical style barged through would be tacklers to score Maltons fourth try which was converted by Palliser.
Goole now only held a two point advantage with about five minutes remaining and had to get out of their own 22. Their forwards went back to type and slowly worked their way up field, and set up camp on Maltons line. Malton defended knowing another score would win the game for Goole and believed they had turned it over on a couple of occasions however the ref thought differently. The pressure eventually told, and Goole crashed over for a converted try to claim victory in a very entertaining match.
For the second weekend in a row Malton narrowly lost out but with the attitude and talent they continually show another victory is not far off. Malton travel to local rivals Driffield next Saturday which is always a tough but fair encounter and victory is definitely not beyond this side.
