James Knock
Malton’s second team league final against rivals Selby took place at Beaver Park, home to Beverley Rugby Club. In a temperature of 17 degrees the surface was bone hard and very dusty with at times as the breeze increased, fine sand blowing across sections of the pitch.
Selby kicked off and early nerves were displayed by both outfits in the early exchanges. Bevin in the opening stages was keen to take the game to the opposition as he led from the front. It wasn’t long before Malton were in a prime position with a line out throw in 7 metres out and a clean catch and drive saw Alngohuro dotting down in the 6th minute. 5-0
Eight minutes later from a penalty the big Selby 8 punched a hole through the first line of defence and three phases later his team registered their opening try. 5-5
From the restart Atkinson challenged for and stole the ball and it was swiftly transferred down the three quarters but an over ambitious miss pass to the winger was knocked forward and a grateful Selby back picked it up and outstripped the chasers to score close to the sticks. 5-12
From the restart Selby launched an attack down the left hand side in front of the dugouts and both Malton flankers in succession missed their tackles and were unceremoniously hauled off by coach John Lumley. The covering winger Atkinson meanwhile saved their bacon as he demonstrated a perfect and uncompromising tackle technique.
Malton in the 26th minute now on the attack suffered a blow when their hard running centre Starbuck needed two minutes of treatment, but from the subsequent scrum and phase play Hancock crossed the whitewash. 10-12
Confidence restored and with Vaughan junior looking to take on all comers it wasn’t long before he crossed the line wide out at a crucial stage of the game just before the halftime whistle and a good conversion in the tricky conditions put Malton in the lead. 17-12
Malton’s supporters gave veteran prop Gwillam a generous round of applause as he was substituted by another veteran in the form of Vaughan senior, at the same time Starbuck resumed his place with Biggins giving way.
Camped in the Selby 25 metre area Vaughan junior opened a gap in the Selby defence for Starbuck to finish off and open the lead to a 10 point gap. 22-12
From the restart with Malton giving up a penalty 10 metres out a quick Selby tap and go resulted in 5 points as Malton were caught napping, and the game now very much on again. 22-17
Selby with their confidence restored pressured the Malton red zone for 5 minutes but resolute tackling led by Tindall kept them out.
In the 55th minute with both Vaughans prominent Malton were back at the business end but a penalty spoilt the position and again a lost own throw line out minutes later did not help matters. Vaughan junior now regained the ball and Malton were back in the Selby red zone.
The Selby cognoscenti in their fanzone were puzzled as Malton decided after some consultation to take three points instead of “ running rugby “ as if this was a festival game and the red black and whites made it a two score game in the 62nd minute. 25-17
In the following 18 minutes there were a number of convenient Selby injuries which disrupted Malton’s attacks as under the laws of the game play has to stop for treatment. Malton’s pack in this later stage of the game were well on top at scrum time but Selby cleverly wheeled the scrum on several occasions which with the resets became rather tedious from a spectator’s viewpoint as there were no warnings from the man with the whistle.
In the 74th minute Malton stretched the lead with another pragmatic decision to take 3 points this time without advice from the fanzone. 28-17
To Selby’s credit the last few minutes were spent in the Malton 20 metre area as they launched a succession of close range attacks but they could not pierce the Malton defence as the men from the Gannock held out as worthy winners and picked up a shield which I trust survived the journey home.
Malton: Dan Coe, Harry Alngohuro, Ed Gwillam, Sam Hancock, Rory Bevin,(c) George Turnbull, Tom Barker, Henry Cornforth, Joe Browne, Matt Clarke, Conor Biggins, Charlie Tindall, Jake Starbuck, Tom Atkinson, Matt Jefferson.
Bench: Liam Vaughan, Tom Pearson, Presley Carr, Charlie Vaughan, Finn Tumman, Ben North, (all used). Charlie Bruce (not used).
Scorers: Alngohuro 1 try
Hancock 1 try
C. Vaughan 1 try
Starbuck 1 try
Clarke 1 con, 2 pens
