Malton and Norton RUFC

James Knock

The above heading was used following the game at Moortown 17/02/24 and after yesterday’s achievement no apologies for recycling it again as today’s squad ground out a hard earned victory that was possibly the best performance of the season to date in what has been a tough five and a half months.
Moortown defending the Town end received the kick off and the reply was instant as they moved the ball right to their speedy and elusive winger, who served notice of his capabilities in making all of 40 metres beating 2 men before a last gasp cover tackle saved the day.
One minute later Malton steamed down the clubhouse side and with good hands the backs delivered the ball to Bell who is rapidly growing into his new back row position at 6 for him to dot down for 7 points.  7-0
The visitors reply was not long in the making as they fed their above mentioned winger who cruised over the home line in the 6th minute.  7-5
On ten minutes following a nasty collision Malton lost their regular no7 Lowry, and Moortown their no6 for the remainder of the game.
Malton now on top up front camped in the visitor’s red zone but frustratingly gave up possession 5 metres out. With a referee playing long advantage Moortown could be forgiven for thinking they had escaped censure for a side entry at a breakdown but their no3 was hauled back for a penalty to Malton which went wide from 25 metres out. Malton stayed in the 20 metre area and following several phases Boothman simply picked up the ball at the base of the breakdown and strolled (he maintains he ran) several metres for a 7 pointer in the 25th minute.  14-5
Five minutes later Malton suffered a lapse in their hitherto exemplary discipline with only the 2nd penalty awarded against them. From the penalty kick line out and resulting 2 phases the visiting no8 bulldozed his way over the line.  14-10
Six minutes later Malton’s fullback Fothergill made his presence felt as from just inside his own half he carved his way through some non existent tackling to score near the uprights.  21-10
Moortown now demonstrated on the stroke of halftime why they have possibly the best three quarter line in the division as from quick possession their centre pairing delivered perfectly timed, weighted, speedy passes for their left winger to collect another quality try as he jinked his way at speed through a bemused defence.  21-17

The second half opened with a penalty against Malton, only their 3rd of the game so far on their 20 metre line. From the subsequent line out and breakdown the ball was spun wide and Moortown’s left winger turned both the home fullback and winger with a perfect grubber kick and his speed saw him beat both men to the touchdown and in the process with the conversion Moortown assumed the lead.  21-22
Six minutes later failure to find touch from successive penalty awards gave Moortown’s no14 opportunity to show his class again as he rounded 2 defenders to dot down and increase the lead.  21-29
In the 53rd minute Malton took advantage of Moortown’s increasing poor discipline, not helped by loud advice to the referee from their technical area, and Triffitt had no hesitation in asking Angus to collect the 3 points on offer.  24-29
Malton again in the Moortown half of the pitch were on the attack but in contrast to the visitor’s back division were not accurate enough with their passing especially judging the length required. However on 65 minutes Malton spent 2 minutes in the visitor’s red zone and the ball was delivered on a plate to Fothergill who battered his way over the limewash to score a 7 pointer and in the process regain the lead for his team.  31-29
Time now to keep an eye on the clock, slow the pace of the game, look after possession, and take any ground a metre at a time, and listen to the coach and skipper. There now followed a strange passage of play as Vasconcelos charged upfield at a rate of knots all of 35 metres and laid the ball as he was tackled, but a contretemps with the tackler ended with both players receiving yellow cards, and Malton the beneficiary of a penalty award, duly converted in the 68th minute.  34-29
One minute later Stephenson received the ball on the clubhouse side and charged upfield on the touch line 45 metres brushing off 2 or 3 defenders, putting in a perfect kick to the line, and as he thought dotted down inches from the dead ball line. To his dismay both the home linesman and the referee could not be sure so in accordance with the laws of the game no try was awarded.
Malton’s forwards now took charge and with loud advice ringing in their collective ears slowed the game down and as time was running out Moortown lost yet another man to the bin. From the penalty Malton rumbled to the line and after several phases Boothman came up with the ball to claim his double and a gritty win for all concerned.  41-29
In two weeks time we reassemble at Morley, please check kickoff time in your planning!

MALTON:  Ben Boothman,  John Vasconcelos,  Peter Hopkins,  Charlie Reed,  Will Dunn,  Will Bell,  Tom Lowry,  Sam Triffitt (c),  Paul Angus,  Adam Finlinson,  Bill Collier,  Jacob Stephenson,  Archie Johnson,  Tom Atkinson,  Ali Fothergill.

Bench(all used):     Nick Salisbury,  Henry Cornforth,  James Bulmer.

Scorers:    Bell   1 try
                   Boothman   2 tries
                   Fothergill   2 tries
                   Angus   5 cons,  2 pens