Sat 7 Feb 2015
PONTEFRACT 12pts MALTON & NORTON 31pts
A sunny afternoon and almost perfect playing surface greeted Malton at Pontefract as the men from The Gannock aimed to extend their unbeaten run. The game was also the parting game for Zweli Sodladla and Vus Dyantjies who return to South Africa this week and have had a pivotal role in Maltons success to date this season. Both hope to return later in the year, and they will be welcomed with open arms.
Malton showed their intent in the opening two minutes with a great break from defence by Sizwe Zondo who scythed through the home defence before handing on to fly half Nick Daley with thirty metres to go. The Pontefract defence was quick to recover and, with the line beckoning, he was brought down just short. Malt quickly recycled the ball and appeared to have crossed for the first try only to have the score ruled out for obstruction. The Malton pack, although slightly outmuscled in the set pieces, were covering every inch of the ground to outnumber Pontefract at almost every breakdown. After ten minutes Malton stole the ball at a Pontefract line out ten metres out from the home line. A good reset followed by a strong and well controlled drive provided prop forward Rob Featherstone with another try to add to his growing tally.
Pontefract are in a relegation fight and were not going to gift victory to Malton. They certainly had plenty of controlled aggression and drive but lacked the finesse and pace of Malton. That determination paid dividends on the quarter hour mark when a break from defence along the left wing made good ground. A hack forward was well followed up by the home wing who miraculously picked the ball up at full speed to score in the corner and level the scores. Malton were being made to fight for everything but a piece of sublime play after 15 minutes secured the lead. Ali Coe won the ball at the tail of a line out on half way. Daley then floated a perfect pass in to the hands of Zondo who entered the line at pace to slice through and race over from 50 metres out. Sodladla added the conversion to take his season tally to 200 points. Malton were now dominating territorial advantage but resolute defence prevented any further score until the 33rd minute when from a scrum five metres out Coe picked up and fed Sodladla who raced through the gap to touch down for a try he converted himself. Once again Pontefract came back. Using their forward strength they were twice over the Malton line only to fail to ground the ball properly. When the third scrum in succession collapsed the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty try to the home side which brought the interval score to 19 – 12 in Maltons favour.
The hosts started the second period in determined mood and only some excellent defence kept them out. When Malton did break out and set up good positions of their own all too frequently they conceded needless penalties in their eagerness to gain possession. The tables turned midway through the half when a good Malton move was halted by a deliberate knock on by a Pontefract player and the inevitable yellow card. Malton took full advantage of the extra man and set a series of pick and drives for Featherstone again to burrow over. That score appeared to take the spirit away from Pontefract as Malt pressed for more. The defence held firm for Pontefract until the final minute of the game. Again the score came from the pack after the backs had set up a maul five metres out. Another set of pick and drives gave Sean Emms the opportunity to get the important touchdown for Sodladla to convert and end the game.
Once again the Malton back row of Triffitt, Coe and Lowry were outstanding but the other five members of the pack were very close behind. They are not the heaviest but make up for that lack of bulk with their pace around the pitch and great skill levels at close quarters. The threequarters once again showed some delightful touches an d on another day may well have cut the home defence to ribbons with their pace and ingenuity. Pontefract can take credit for not allowing that to happen.
Malton take a rest on Saturday before entertaining neighbours Scarborough at The Gannock the following week.
Malton: S.Zondo, B.Woodhouse, J.Heggie, V.Dyantjies, I.Cooke, N.Daley, Z.Sodladla, N.Salisbury, S.Thompson, R.Featherstone, J.Rounthwaite, S.Emms, T.Lowry, S.Triffitt, A.Coe. Subs: (all used) D.Cooke, J.Lumley, C.Stark
