Malton & Norton’s hard work win (From Gazette & Herald)

Malton & Norton’s hard work win

1:19pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in Sport

Malton & Norton were made to sweat before sealing back-to-back North One East wins with a 37-19 victory at Darlington.

Having swept aside struggling Durham City 55-0 the previous week, the Ryedale side were expected to repeat the dose against basement side Darlington.

However, the result was in the balance up until the last 15 minutes as Malt struggled to impose themselves.

The game started well enough for the visitors, who retrieved the ball from the kick off and quickly moved into the Darlington 22-metre area. Quick ruck ball was produced and fly-half Chuck Ramsay showed his deft footwork with a defence-splitting break to score the opening try with two minutes on the clock. Ali Heard, pictured, converted. But Malt then retreated into their shell instead of keeping up the intensity and Darlington took full advantage.

Gaining ground from a series of penalties, the massive Darlington pack were proving a handful for Malton with some powerful drives. On the quarter hour, a lineout catch and drive gained ground and sucked in the Malton defence. Darlington spread the ball wide and used the overlap to level the scores.

Malt’s response was immediate. Darlington missed their own ball at a lineout on half-way and Malton’s Sean Emms plucked it from the air and set off on a run to the line. Two metres short, and with only the full-back to beat, he attempted a side-step and tripped. However, Darlington transgressed at the ruck and Heard slotted the penalty. Malton continued to leak penalties and, from one, the home side kicked to the corner and drove from the lineout to get a try and a 12-10 half-time lead.

The visitors started the second half as they had the first.

Keeping the ball alive and moving it swiftly, they had the home defence clutching at straws as Ian Cooke set up centre Ryan Lonsdale for a try.

Heard again goaled, but again Malton had a slack 20 minutes, conceding penalties and taking wrong options to allow a very ordinary Darlington side back into the game. Shocking midfield tackling from Malton allowed Darlington to grab a try from a harmless break. Two minutes later, Lonsdale broke from defence and good handling had Darlington in disarray. The final pass put young left wing Rob Dempsey clear to score in the corner. Malton then took control, causing mayhem in the home ranks. From a lineout on their own line, Malt broke through Cooke and slick handling by Sam Triffitt and Dempsey put Ramsay over for his second try.

From the restart, Lonsdale made good ground as he smashed through the defence and made the final pass to Cooke, pictured. The pass looked fully two yards forward but the referee was in a poor position and allowed the score to stand. Heard converted and added a penalty to end the match.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: “Not one of Malton’s better displays, but the result was right. With a few first choice players missing through injury, especially in the front row, it was always going to be tough. “Sam Triffitt and Ali Coe were again outstanding in the back row and Ian Cooke, Ryan Lonsdale and Chuck Ramsay proved to be a handful when in possession.”

On Saturday, Malton host a Northern side that beat Pocklington 30-0 last weekend.

Malton & Norton: Cooke, Heard, Millward (Woodhouse), Lonsdale, Dempsey, Ramsay, Cattle, Turnbull, Casey, Richards (Dobson), Emms, Webster, Coe, Barnes (Nutt), Triffitt.