Malton and Norton RUFC

Pocklington 3rds 39 - Malton & Norton 3rds 0

Pat Lane

Some days you just get beaten by a better side. Malton started very strongly in this fixture and spent the first 10 minutes in the home teams 22 but were not able to convert all their possession into a score, time and time again they were held up just short despite strong running from Collins, Armitage and Stark. However, the Pocklington defence were up very quickly in defence which made it very difficult to get the ball out to either O Shea or Marshall on the wings.

This Malton side do not give up but time and time again they should have finished their scoring chances. Eventually Pocklington managed to break out of their 22 and with their impressive back line racing the length of the pitch scored two tries in quick succession. The game was starting to open up which suited the home side, and their backs took advantage breaking tackles and finishing off their try scoring chances. Pocklington’s No 8 had a fine game controlling their possession and bringing their backs in with varying attacking runs, he continually put pressure and gave returning scrum half Charlie Breese a tough time.

But it was Pocklington’s backs that were the difference in this match, in fact the Pocklington captain admitted afterwards that it was a very tough forward battle and there was little between the two packs. All Maltons forwards stuck to their job with fine displays from the starting eight and the subs who came on. Kev Smith, Meggo, Watson et al carried well all day and the back row of Newsome, Sutton and Knaggs worked hard and covered a lot of ground.

Unfortunately, Newsome who was going well had to go off injured and was replaced by veteran Ed Winchester who gave his usual committed performance until he had to come off with a blood injury and then had to leave the field again with what must be said was a harsh yellow card. Despite Malton starting the second half time 30 points down and now playing against the slope and a very strong breeze they would not lie down and with their typical spirit worked very hard throughout the second half to keep the scoreline down to 39 points. Riddolls replaced Breese at scrum half and with fresh legs started to find some space and got the ball moving. Malton made some excellent breaks in the second half which should have been rewarded with a try but that final clean pass to score just keeps eluding this team.

In the last 10 minutes Malton went down to 14 men again when Riddolls received a red card for dissent , it was a shame it finished that way for the player and the team as he was having a fine game. On what was a tough day for Malton they showed real spirit and never gave up, they will admit the best team won and they will learn from this beating but by keeping their discipline and finishing off their chances they will only continue to improve. This Saturday we entertain Driffield at The Gannock which will be another tough fixture but no reason why we cannot reverse the narrow loss we had away to them a couple of weeks ago.