With places 8, 9, and 10 in the league still up for grabs from a Malton perspective, and in contrast Goole’s demotion to Yorkshire 1 already confirmed, this was no dead rubber and both sides had their pride to play for especially as they will meet in 3 weeks’ time in the Papa John cup at the Gannock.
A still, damp, grey afternoon greeted the visitors who took the kick off and it was in the opening minute that the referee awarded the first of the game’s many penalties against a Malton back rower for a tackle above (in the referee’s words) nipple height. The first 10 minutes were played in the middle sector of the pitch with Goole demonstrating that they were not to be taken lightly.
Malton’s first chance of points came on 15 minutes when 2 successive penalty line kicks put them in coffin corner and from the second line out the ball was moved wide to Collier who was held up over the line.
Moments later from Malton possession in the home half of the pitch a knock forward gifted the ball to a Goole midfielder who had a clear run to the sticks. 0-7
From the restart Malton worked their way to the home red zone and already showing early dominance at scrum time shoved Goole backwards and clean swift ball was delivered via Lowry to Collier who scored in the corner with Bulmer adding the extras in the 21st minute. 7-7
Moments later Lowry retired to the dugout with a shoulder/arm injury necessitating a sling and Raines bounded onto the pitch to carry on from his man of the match performance last week for the second string at Pocklington.
In the 26th minute Goole from a penalty, kicked to the corner and with a clean catch and drive 3 phases later 5 points was the reward. 7-12
Ten minutes later after a period of rather drab rugby littered with errors from both sides Goole pragmatically took 3 points from a penalty in front of the uprights 20 metres out. 7-15
With halftime in the offing, from the restart Malton were in the Goole red zone and Stephenson cut a brilliant line at speed to put his side back in the frame. 14-15
Malton rang the changes at halftime with Salisbury and Finlinson giving way to Hopkins and Pegrum respectively. This seemed to galvanise Malton as the entered a purple patch scoring 21 unanswered points in 15 minutes. The first came in minute 47 following 4 successive scrum penalties and the referee losing patience with the home pack awarded a penalty try and yellow at the same time. 21-15
Two minutes later a Bulmer intercept saw the no10 sprinting as if the hounds of hell were on his tail all of 50 metres to score a 7 pointer. 28-15
Heavy duty tackling by Raines who hits his man with some venom, yielded a turnover which set up a try for Cornforth in the 55th minute and as was to prove, too early to declare game over. 35-15
From the restart Goole pressed the button and in minute 58 scored a converted try. 35-22
Malton now retreated into their shell as influential prop Boothman came off with a rib injury and Salisbury returned for a second shift. Goole were now on the rampage and in the 66th minute a large player from the Goole engine room cannoned over the whitewash to bring the score to 35-29 .
With Raines driving out of defence in the 79th minute Malton recovered their equilibrium and the ball was fed back and wide for Collier to make 30 metres up the wing and the ball was fed via Stephenson to Bell to secure 5 points only. 40-29
Goole hadn’t finished and scored in minute 78 under the sticks 40-36 leaving a nervous Malton outfit sweat in and at the same time praying for the final whistle.
This game sets up the opening round of the Papa John cup when Goole are our guests at the Gannock in 3 weeks’ time.
In the meantime the first team get yet another rest next week and in a fortnight’s time league champions Rochdale will be in town for the final league game of the season.
Malton: Ben Boothman, Joao Vasconcelos, Nick Salisbury, Charlie Reed, Will Dunn, Tom Lowry, Henry Cornforth, Sam Triffitt (c), Paul Angus, James Bulmer, Archie Johnson, Jacob Stephenson, Will Bell, Bill Collier, Adam Finlinson.
Bench: (all used) Peter Hopkins, Josh Raines, Rufus Pegrum.
Scorers: Collier 1 try
Stephenson 1 try
Bulmer 1 try 4 cons
Cornforth 1 try
Bell 1 try
Penalty try (7points).
