James Knock
With a choice of 3 pitches at the home of the Knights (one appropriately all weather) Malton were invited to play on pitch 3 with minimal protection from the raging storm that could have been afforded by the stand and or the bulky clubhouse.
As named storm Amy did it’s worst, Malton fielding several youngsters were led out by Read standing in as skipper in the absence of the regular skipper and his vice-captain.
The visitors kicked off with the swirling wind and rain behind them and it wasn’t long before the first penalty was awarded against them in the second minute. The opening 10 minutes were all Doncaster and on the second set scrum Malton were ignominiously shunted several metres off their own feed with a penalty the result.
It later transpired that veteran prop Salisbury had broken his nose in the first loose maul of proceedings, but bravely soldiered on for 30 minutes. As they say in cycling “chapeau”.
After 10 minutes of trying to move the ball through the hands into the gale with minimal gain Doncaster resorted to brute force as they shoved the hapless visiting pack again on their put in backwards at a rate of knots. On the fourth scrum Malton decided that a quick heel was the better option and Doncaster were suckered into a penalty for an early shove. A long kick to the fullback was spilled on his 22 metre line and from the scrum possession the forwards led by no8 Charlie Ray camped in the home red zone but just lacked the impetus and grunt to muscle over the whitewash.
However on 25 minutes with Phoenix on the attack and punching holes through the Malton defence via their big prop forwards, despite strong tackling in the midfield, they gave up a penalty 15 metres out and with wind assistance Malton’s no10 made a 30 metre gain up the touchline. From the line out more ground was gained and another penalty awarded to Malton, and this time the forwards after several pick up and drives sealed the deal with skipper Reed claiming the try. 5-0
Doncaster with all their early possession had looked the more dangerous of the two outfits but to the relief of the Malton supporters and the frustration of their own, had tried to play the rugby ball in hand rather than using the boot to put themselves at the business end.
On 35 minutes with the wind behind him Bulmer took 3 points on offer from 25 metres out. 8-0
This was followed on the stroke of halftime with Phoenix registering their opening 3 points to set up a second half with Malton playing into the wind. 8-3
In the opening 15 minutes of this half despite having all the ball and play, Malton did not get the rewards as the foul weather continued unabated into their faces. Doncaster still in the game put a long, low, diagonal kick into space 10 metres out which had Angus and Bell scrambling to defend with the latter showing his skills picked up last season in his spell as a back rower.
On 65 minutes from a penalty and with the weather improving Bulmer put in an inch perfect kick for a line out 10 metres out. After much discussion Vasconcelos delivered a perfect low, flat, fast through to Browne jumping at 2 and the pack drove the 10 metres to the line for Marshall to claim the try. 13-3
Now Malton started to look like a mid table team with a purpose, as several minutes later Charlie Ray led a burst downfield and in the tackle fed his brother Tom who carried on the move to take Malton within range. A clever, delayed pass from Hoggard found the charging Armitage who made good metres before laying back clean swift ball for Featherstone to grunt and crash over in his usual manner 2 rucks later with 7 minutes to the final whistle. A simple conversion took the score to 20-3 thus condemning a valiant Doncaster to stay rooted to the bottom of the early league table.
On 75 minutes a move down the far touch line was finished off by a jubilant Marshall for his brace to complete the scoring. 25-3
With several old regulars missing for a variety of reasons and the youngsters putting up their hands today, selection on Thursday will be interesting for a fly on the wall as the selectors go about their business choosing a side to take on Pontefract, one place and point above us in the early league table.
See you at the Gannock for a 3.00pm kickoff.
Malton: Nick Salisbury, John Vasconcelos, Pete Hopkins, Ed Browne, Charlie Reed (c) Tom Lowry, Byron Marshall, Charlie Ray, Theo Hoggard, James Bulmer, Bill Collier, Tom Ray, Will Bell, Ben North, Paul Angus.
Bench (all used) Archie Armitage, Adam Finlinson, Rob Featherstone.
Scorers: Reed 1 try
Marshall 2 tries
Featherstone 1 try
Bulmer 1 con, 1 pen
