ACCOUNT SQUARED
By JAMES KNOCK
With last season now a distant memory, when on York's return to North One East Malton won both games to gain local bragging rights, a win today would have preserved the status quo having lost the game at York in September.
The task that was set proved to be Sisyphean as the final result demonstrated.
A bright day for open rugby started with the league leaders kicking off towards the football end of the ground and on 7 minutes with the Malton pack competing well with the visiting eight a home penalty attempt was taken off target by the slight breeze.
The next ten minutes saw Malton attacking the York half with a good supply of ball but on 16 minutes a speculative over cooked chip kick from Malton landed in the lap of York's no10 who linking with his no13 received the return pass to score, his own kick going in off for a 7 pointer.
Malton now became guilty of wasting valuable possession with some aimless passing to nowhere from a member of the front row union, and knock forwards a plenty especially after a great Charlie Read steal at a York throw in with Jack Hobbs trucking it up only to see his pass wasted with a knock on. A welcome return to the colours by Liam Vaughan on 25 minutes stiffened Malton's resolve up front and at set and loose he led the charge so that on 30 minutes Malton were in a good position with their tails up.
Following some indiscipline from York in their 20 metre zone with a penalty pending the free ball was cleverly grubber kicked over the line under the posts with Will Bell playing at 13 quickest to the touchdown for a 7 pointer.
The next 10 minutes are hard to describe with the word blitzkrieg coming to mind. It was as if a switch had been flicked into the down position from Malton's point of view. York ran in 21 points from the no's 13,11 and 8 respectively the conversions from Liam Hessay proving what a valuable deputy he is for former Munster,Leicester and Doncaster professional Declan Cusack. Half time and the score 28-7 to the visitors.
The second half opened with a continuation of the previous onslaught and on 44 minutes the York lynch pin no9 showed his paces scampering over for a 7 pointer.
To Malton's credit facing a 28 point deficit they kept their heads up and drove down to the York line and on 53 minutes put Matt Bowman over with the conversion attempt cannoning off a post infield. Four minutes later York scored their final points, their no15 Dent put away for 5 only.
On 75 minutes Hobbs stormed over for Malton's 3rd try not converted which left 5 minutes to find a 4th bonus point try. It was not to be and left the coaches and players reflecting on a continuation of last week's errors at Hartlepool and lessons not learned with regard to the basics of rugby; passing,catching, and tackling.
The coaching team have their work cut out with the next league game on February 1st at Durham City who will no doubt be looking to redress October's 2 point defeat to Malton and with a game in hand haul themselves out of the drop zone.
Next week a visit to Yorkshire One mid tablers Bradford Salem in the cup could help restore confidence in our abilities which are undoubtedly there but need some boosting which can come from a more disciplined approach to the basics of rugby.
Malton: Tom Hoggard, Chris Joe, Will Bell, Vus Dyantjies, Ali Fothergill, James Bulmer, Paul Angus, Nick Salisbury, Bailey Lamb, Rob Featherstone, Jack Hobbs, Charlie Read, Tom Lowry, Matt Bowman, Sam Triffitt (c).
Subs: Liam Vaughan, Will Dunn, (both used).
Scorers: Will Bell 1 try, Matt Bowman 1 try, Jack Hobbs 1 try, Paul Angus 1 con.
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