MALTON COLTS NARROWLY BEATEN
James Knock
With incessant overnight and morning rain the 4G pitch at hosts Doncaster Knights was used for the opening two of the three scheduled cup finals. By 3.00pm the main pitch thanks to the early work of the ground staff was deemed playable.
Malton kicked off the opening 35 minutes and the strong follow up tackle was followed by a penalty award kicked to the corner. The line out ball was swiftly moved for winger Pegrum to score wide out in the second minute. 5-0
Three minutes later a penalty for a late shoulder barge by Malton saw West Leeds take a tap move and transferring the ball swiftly to the outside centre he beat a man and sent his winger in. 5-7
On resumption Malton pressured the Leeds 20 metre area after two or three hard runs by Owuor set up position and quick transfer of the ball set up the other winger Collier who danced over the whitewash. 12-7
In minute 13 Leeds scored again on the right as Malton failed to halt the midfield and the speedy winger was dispatched over the line again. 12-12
Three minutes later with the Malton eight in dominant mode quality ball was provided for Jones to show and ghost past 3 clutching sets of hands and score , in the process knocking the wind out of himself and taking several minutes on the touch line. The reserve kicker Redshaw stepped up to add the extras. 19-12
In this opening half Malton had enjoyed at least 70% territory and 65% possession and the forwards were stifling the opposition pack in the 10 minutes before halftime .In the minute before the interval Leeds lost the no8 to a yellow card for collapsing a maul and with Malton opting for a scrum the influential skipper Owuor was fed the ball to cross the line on the stroke of halftime. 24-12
Malton opened the second half initially on the back foot as Leeds after their halftime pep talk entered the game led by their impressive hooker who fronted every move making good yardage from his frequent carries.
In the 40th minute Malton scored after concerted efforts in the opposition red zone and winger Collier collected his second try converted by Jones. 31-12
Rugby is both a mental and physical game and complacency and lack of awareness always lurks in the background.
Leeds now put together 25 minutes of mostly disciplined and hard rugby fronting up in the forwards and in the 45th minute their no2 drove hard and stretched over the line for a 7 pointer. 31-19
In the 52nd minute Leeds received their second yellow of the game and Malton having absorbed an enormous amount of pressure cleared to the opposition 10 metre line. However Leeds following a sublime offload in midfield burst downfield to resume where they had left off and despite being a man down and some brave Malton tackling crossed the limewash close to the sticks in the 55th minute. 31-26
Malton’s discipline was now found wanting and coughing up penalties put themselves on the back foot with Leeds taking full advantage and led by their power runners scored a 5 pointer to level the scores with five minutes to go. 31-31
With the supporters in full voice Malton replied 3 minutes later when following concerted pressure by the reinvigorated pack Owuor found the line with a dive clattering the corner flag as he touched down and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the try. 36-31
Slowing down the pace and game management was now the requirement for 2 minutes but Leeds had other ideas and on the stroke of full time scored near the uprights for 7 points and the cup. 36-38
Malton’s young men should hold their heads high for putting on a brave display and accepting defeat in a manner befitting the ethos of our wonderful game of Rugby Football. We can only look forward to them representing their club at senior level in the very near future.
Thanks must go to the YRFU, Doncaster Knights, and the match officials without whom the three games would not have taken place.
Scorers: Pegrum 1 try
Collier 2 tries
Jones 1 try 2 cons
Owuor 2 tries
Redshaw 1 con
Malton: Jack Redshaw, William Collier, Harry Dawkins, Oliver Owuor(c) Rufus Pegrum, Jack Jones, Jack Deighton, Alfred Stephenson, Harry Alngohuro, Muntasir Kabila, Mathew Simpson, William Walker, Henry Cornforth, Tom Gray, Tom Coomber
Subs(all used) Tommy Smith, Charlie Bruce, Oliver Simpson, Henry Wilson.
Members of the extended squad: Adam Mortimer, Digby Blenkin, Archie Lee, Charlie Cooke, Ollie Hume, Josh Kirby, Ollie Whitaker, Alex Packer, Aiden Moore.
