EARLY SETBACK-----STRONG COMEBACK.
Introducing Chris Inman at scrum half Paul Angus back on the wing and Sean Emms making his first appearance of the season at lock Malton on paper had an optimum line up.
The game opened with a West kick off, a Malton knock on, and the ball moved left from the resulting scrum for a routine 7 point score by the West no 15 on two minutes with Malton falling off the early tackles. Two minutes later West's pack trundled up to Malton's line and their no 4 was forced over for another 7 points.
The portents looked ominous for Malton but they gathered themselves together and soon had a penalty attempt pushed wide. On ten minutes Malton got on the scoreboard with a well struck penalty from James Bulmer after two strong runs from Ali Fothergill who seems to have this season found his mojo and self belief. Two minutes later a routine attack was well finished by Vus Dyantjies for the opening converted try.
On 15 minutes West's dangerous looking no 10 limped off after showing his paces. Malton meanwhile had concerns of their own at scrum time being shunted off the ball 3 times on the trot.
On 22 minutes West were penalised for a high tackle and lost 10 metres for dissent. A line out catch and peel followed for Tom Lowry to go over for 5 points only, but a one point lead after the shock of the opening 4 minutes. A sense of relief was palpable on the clubhouse side of the ground.
Five minutes later West replied with a forward truck and drive and release to their backs for a called move, the full back sweeping into the corner to complete his brace, this try not converted.
With the Malton back row working in harness and scavenging ball, a good converted try was worked for Fothergill after strong running from Will Bell to give Malton a 3 point lead at half time following West's decision to kick to the corner rather than take 3 points, a decision with no try resulting costing them dearly.
Seven minutes into the second half the West no 7 bagged a yellow card and from Malton's perspective his overly long sojourn in the bin was useful. The immediate result of the yellow card was 2 successive penalties to Malton and on the 2nd chosen scrum a pick up by skipper Sam Triffitt resulted in Fothergill barging over on 47 minutes for 7 points.
West now restored to parity kept Malton penned in their own half for 15 minutes with the penalty count creeping up but numerically lower than previous weeks. On 65 minutes the hard working pick of the home pack Matt Bowman was shown a yellow card.
West capitalised and camped on Malton's line but were penalised for taking their own maul ball down and a relieving kick from James Bulmer saved the day.
On 70 minutes West were back in the zone and scored 5 points through their no 13 after moving Malton from side to side for several minutes.
Six minutes later Malton kicked for the corner and got their reward on 79 minutes after 3 minutes camped on the West line the result an unconverted try for the ever improving Will Bell to close the scoring and give Malton 5 league points, the loud cheers from the clubhouse side of the ground a marked contrast to the quiet nodding heads of the home supporting cognoscenti seated in the stand!
NEXT WEEK CLIFTON PARK.
MALTON : Ali Fothergill, Paul Angus, Will Bell, Vus Dyantjies, Joe Browne, James Bulmer, Chris Inman, Nick Salisbury, Bailey Lamb, Simon Thompson, Sean Emms, Charlie Read, Tom Lowry, Matt Bowman, Sam Triffitt (c).
Scorers: Ali Fothergill 2 tries.
Vus Dyantjies 1 try
Tom Lowry 1 try
Will Bell 1 try
James Bulmer 1 pen, 3 cons.
