Malton's title hopes fade (From Gazette & Herald)

Malton's title hopes fade

Powergen Intermediate Cup: Malton & Norton 0, Middlesbrough 8

Yet again, Malton just failed to overcome their Teesside opponents, who operate at a much higher level than them, but the game of Rugby Union was the winner in a great Powergen Intermediate Cup game.

The result was in doubt to the final minute as both sides battled for supremacy. Blood may have been spilled and bodies bruised but still both sides came back for more to repeat the game of two seasons ago when another close encounter also went the way of the visitors.

For 10 minutes, Malton were under the cosh as Middlesbrough tried to gain a foothold. Stout defence, a feature of Malton's play this season, kept the marauders at bay until a penalty for offside at a ruck was conceded, and Middlesbrough fly half Simon Moore put his side into the lead.

This setback spurred Malton on to better things as they then began to play some exciting and adventurous rugby to gain the upper hand for large portions of the time. The forwards, with debutant prop and Cayley Arms landlord Jon Richards, set their mark on the game and started to take control.

The backs, with skipper Chris Creber at the helm and fullback Ben Hough in superb form, posed problems aplenty for the visiting side, who seemed a little shell-shocked by the quality of the play.

One excellent move deserved a better return when Creber carved an opening before passing on to centre Tim Carney, who just failed to hold onto the ball as he raced into open space with the line beckoning.

For much of the half, Malton were the better side but could not find a way through a good Middlesbrough defence and, had the penalty kicks been converted, could well have held a slender lead at the break.

The second half was very much a carbon copy of the first, with neither side having territorial advantage, but with Malton showing the better skills and ideas although still unable to break through a solid defensive line.

However, the large crowd were kept on their toes as the game flowed from end to end and some sensible refereeing from York referee Russ Warin ensured that, although the pressure was rising, both sides maintained their composure. When Middlesbrough did attack, the stout defence of Ryan Lonsdale and Carney in the centre and Ian Cooke on the wing proved watertight.

However, there was little they could do to stop what proved to be the deciding score. From a set scrum at 40 metres out, Middlesbrough scrum half Peter Wright broke and cleverly beat the Malton defence before handing to Moore, who crossed for his side's try. These two were the stars of an otherwise good but not too spectacular Middlesbrough outfit.

With 20 minutes still remaining, Malton still battled away and again produced some excellent rugby to almost carve out an opening. The visitors' defence may have been stretched but they held firm and, no matter what Malton threw at them, remained intact.

If every game was as enthralling as this we would be in Utopia. Both sets of players deserve credit for putting on a display of rugby which embodied everything good in the game, skill, physical intensity and commitment. Each in equal proportions. Richards was deservedly Malton's Man of the Match but he was closely followed by a host of others including Hough and the unsung, but vitally important, Richard Webster in the back row. Malton once again showed that, on their day, they can be a match for sides from much higher in the pecking order.

If Malton can carry this level of performance into their league programme, they will surely be in the shake-up come April.

After the game, coach Richard John said: "Middlesbrough play two leagues above us. We played well but still lost.

"We're back playing against average sides who haven't challenged us. As a side, we have to start maturing. We need to turn possible narrow defeats into wins.

"Jon Richards, making his debut from Otley, was a real bonus to us.

"We probably had 70 per cent of possession. We missed one tackle and cost us five points, they missed none. It was a good performance."

Updated: 12:53 Wednesday, October 19, 2005