Malton & Norton eye a strong finish to campaign (From Gazette & Herald)

Malton & Norton eye a strong finish to campaign

3:32pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Sport

MALTON & Norton are aiming to finish the North One East season with a flourish after a 30-20 victory at Northern.

The Ryedale side head into the final five games of the campaign – starting at home to Keighley this Saturday – in ninth place with nine wins from their 21 fixtures.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said The Gannock outfit “have the confidence to finish off the season strongly”.

Malton led 11-10 at Northern after a poor first half, but the game sprang to life after the break and produced the bonus point win the visitors craved.

Northern dominated possession and territory for the first 10 minutes but Malton's defence was solid and the home side could find no way through.

On their first visit to Northern’s half, Malton took the lead.

The hosts were penalised twice in succession and, on the second offence, Ian Cooke kicked a three-pointer.

However, Northern returned to the Malton half and, when the visitors were penalised for a high tackle, a kick to the corner produced a clean catch and drive for the first try of the game.

When Northern were again penalised for handling in a ruck, Cooke added another penalty to edge his side back in front.

Northern then set up a series of drives close to the Malton line following some sloppy defence and the home scrum-half burrowed over from close range. Malt centre Ryan Lonsdale was stopped just short after a break from halfway, and soon afterwards Henry Newitt chipped ahead and flanker Sam Triffitt won the race to touch down in the corner.

Malton came out firing on all cylinders in the second half.

Good handling and driving in the pack, with George Harrison prominent, gave good ball to the backs for wing Kenton Leiataua to cross.

When Lonsdale was again stopped short, the pack inched closer before fly-half Chuck Ramsay grabbed a try. Cooke converted and Malt were in control.

Harrison then took a lineout catch and Malt drove forward for number eight Gus Ramsay to score. Cooke’s conversion made it 30-10.

Northern refused to buckle and, in the closing minutes, managed to get two further tries to earn a deserved four-try bonus point.

The Malton back row of Triffitt, Gus Ramsay and Harrison were excellent, while hooker Simon Thompson got through a massive amount of work at close quarters.

Cooke, Lonsdale and Tom Newitt were the pick of the backs.

Malton: T Newitt, K Leiataua, R Lonsdale, I Cooke, H Newitt, C Ramsay (J Bulmer), T Boyle, P Dobson, S Thompson, A Turnbull (N Salisbury), S Emms, J Rounthwaite, S Triffitt, G Harrison (A Coe), G Ramsay.