14 MAN MALTON ESCAPE DURHAM JAIL
Like all good monopoly players Malton saved and used their get out of jail card for the final roll of the dice.
Strengthened by the return of prop Rob Featherstone, skipper Sam Triffit, and utility player Ben Tenge for his first appearance of the season in the pack, and the return of the hard straight running Tom Foan in the threes and a change at scrum half Malton on paper turned out as strong a side as we have seen so far this season.
In a game littered with errors by both sides and a high total penalty count of 21 shared equally by both sides, Malton showed early promise with good set piece possesion moving the ball wide and creating an overlap only to see it dropped twice on the trot in the 30 metre zone.
On 11 minutes Malton moved the ball from stable set piece in City's half calling a set move with full back Will Bell coming in at pace stopped 10 metres short, the supporting Ali Fothergill setting up a position for a chosen scrum penalty picked up by Tenge who took it to the line for Matt Bowman to go over, the conversion going in off the post.
On 20 minutes with City coming into the game ruling the line outs and achieving parity at scrum time the no9 was sent over for a try converted by himself. Twelve minutes later City's powerful midfield runners which included back row and props when free and whose off loading was a feature of their game sent in their no13 for 5 points.
Three minutes later Malton looked to be in trouble with a penalty to City to make it 15-7 with half time approaching. Worse was to come with Bowman whose natural inclination is to go in with a chest high forearm to dislodge the ball in an otherwise legal tackle earning 10 minutes in the bin. Referees now have clear instructions as regards tackle height. The penalty took City to a 11 point lead on 38 minutes, but lost a player to the bin on 40 minutes. In stoppage time Malton's 7 man pack struck against the head on Durham's 5m line resulting in a push over and Triffitt forcing his way over for 5 points to go to half time just 6 points down.
In a second half that was frustrating for both teams and the Scottish referee Malton's flanker Lowry was red carded for an illegal tackle on 55 minutes. The resulting penalty taking City to 21 points and the chance to add further points and close the game out in the remaining 25 minutes.
Fourteen men had other ideas and earned a penalty on 60 minutes to bring them back to a losing bonus point score line with some in the crowd thinking that to be a positive result on the day.
Now fired up with a long shot at a victory in their sights Malton upped their game with good possesion from the remaining 7 in the pack but frustratingly dropping passes and losing long line out throw ins to a City side whose control in this department had been a feature of their game.
On 75 minutes Malton drove to the City line and a big Featherstone and Salisbury drive sent Feathers over for the try to bring the score to 20-21 and the losing bonus point a near certainty.
In the 79th minute with the referee indicating 4 minutes on the clock Paul Angus was consulted and then directed by his skipper to have a shot at goal just inside the City half. Correct decision but with it falling short the ensuing clearance kick gave Malton a line out throw in on the City 22 metre line. A long throw in was not fielded cleanly but City clearly rattled by Malton's never say die approach to the final phases of the game gave up a penalty in the scoring zone for holding on to the ball.
Now the monopoly card was produced and played by Angus who nervelessly drilled the ball through the uprights to seal a win and 4 valuable league points.
NEXT WEEK Driffield (away). BE THERE!
MALTON: Will Bell, Nathan Pratt, Tom Foan, Vus Dyantjies, Ali Fothergill, James Bulmer, Paul Angus, Rob Featherstone, Matt Bowman, Peter Hopkins, Jamie Rounthwaite, Charlie Read, Tom Lowry, Ben Tenge, Sam Triffitt (c).
Subs: Nick Salisbury(used) Ian Cooke, John Lumley.
Scorers: Bowman 1 try, Triffitt 1 try, Featherstone 1 try. Bulmer 1 con, Angus 2 pens.
