Derby test brings 'best out of Malton & Norton'

Only one team go up automatically from Yorkshire One to North One East and Phoenix are sitting pretty with a 100 per cent record with six games to go.

Malton are virtually nailed on for second spot, and with it a play-off for promotion, but they required victory over Scarborough to stay within eight points and in touching distance, needing Doncaster to slip up only the once before the sides meet on the last day of the season.

They also had to do so despite losing star men Zweli Sodladla and Vus Dyantjies, who have returned to South Africa.

Said Laidler of the tough derby clash: “We showed the character to succeed even when we were put to the test and we probably deserved the victory.

“Scarborough did test us to the full and if they can be more incisive in the threequarters they will not lose many more games and certainly progress in the National Cup.”

A key period of the game came in the second period when Malton were temporarily reduced to 13 men after having two players sin-binned.

They had led only 19-14 at the time but while short-handed eked up that lead with a penalty.

Laidler said: “There is a deep desire to succeed in this side and to come through a period of being reduced to 13 men and still increase the lead shows their character.”

Malton travel to Selby on Saturday for another North Yorkshire derby.

Laidler added: “Local derbies bring out the best in everyone and the game against Scarborough certainly had much to admire on both sides.”

It was Malton’s first game since losing Sodladla and Dyantjies.

They brought in Paul Angus, for his first appearance this calender year, at scrum-half, and Siya Moabi, the new arrival from South African, at centre.

Both made telling contributions.

Malton opened the scoring after four minutes when they won a lineout in their own half and quickly got the ball to the threequarters. A beautiful miss pass from Moabi found wing Ian Cooke, who burst along the touchline into the Scarborough half.

The move was taken on by full-back Sizwe Zondo and, when he was stopped, the mobile forwards took over.

A well-organised drive took them over the line for skipper Sam Triffitt to get the touchdown.

The opening minutes all belonged to Malton as they monopolised possession and territory.

Good handling and off-loading had Scarborough scrambling for a toe-hold and when Malton again got into the Scarborough 22-metre area another good forward drive gave Triffitt his second try. Cooke converted.

Scarborough were far from done and mounted a comeback to deprive Malton of any worthwhile possession for long periods.

However, the hard work of the Scarborough pack was not matched in the backs who insisted on running across field rather than forward.

The Malton defence was solid but finally undone after 26 minutes when Boro, having been held up over the line, worked a back-row move from the scrum to get their first score. The conversion made it 12-7.

With half-time looming, Scarborough were reduced to 14 men due to a yellow card for a player not using his arms in the tackle.

A minute later, Malton suffered a similar fate when flanker Tom Lowry was sin-binned for not rolling away after a tackle.

Malt were under severe pressure at this time but stout defence held firm until the interval.

From the resumption, Malton struck a killer blow.

Centre Josh Heggie drove straight into the visiting defence and gained 30 metres before going to ground.

The forwards again took over and set up one of their trademark drives.

The co-ordination was perfect and flanker Ali Coe got the touchdown in the corner for Cooke to convert.

Again Scarborough came back and were deemed to have been held up over the try-line twice.

Malton were scrimmaging well but when Triffitt went for an interception from a scrum close to Malton’s line he was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on and shown a yellow card.

Scarborough then turned the screw and were awarded a penalty try from the resultant scrum when Malton were reduced to 13 men for allegedly collapsing it.

The tide was turning Scarborough’s way but Malton are made of sterner stuff and from the restart quickly regained possession and forced Scarborough into conceding a penalty 35 metres out.

Cooke sent the ball between the posts to widen the lead to 22-14.

Restored to a full complement, Malton increased the lead just after the half-hour mark.

Again Heggie drove deep into Scarborough territory and was able to stay on his feet as his forwards piled in behind.

They moved relentlessly forward before scrum-half Angus took control and raced through the defence to get a deserved try for Cooke to convert.

Scarborough again retaliated when Malton conceded a penalty close to their own line. A quick tap and go set up a maul and substitute scrum-half Wakeham side-stepped and shimmied in.

Malton: S Zondo, I Cooke, S Moabi, J Heggie, B Woodhouse, N Daley, P Angus, N Salisbury, J Thornton, R Featherstone, J Rounthwaite, S Emms, T Lowry, S Triffitt, A Coe, Subs: (all used) D Cooke, S Thompson, R Armitage.

• MALTON & Norton 2nds blew the chance to do the double over Scarborough - fluffing a great chance for victory late on.

Malton crossed the try line for an apparent winning score but dropped the ball when diving to the ground, leaving the scores tied on 22-22.

The match was played in bright conditions on a perfect pitch, with the teams being evenly matched.

Malton tries came from Louis Welch, Rob Dempsey and - in his last game for the club before moving to Leeds - second-team stalwart Ali Fothergill, with the other points coming from the boot of Jordan Palliser.

Scarborough scored four tries, two of them gifted to them by poor play by Malton. All too often passes were forced and inaccurate, resulting in turnovers which gave Boro chances.

Malton’s front five were solid and dependable, providing secure ball from scrums, lineouts and in the loose. It was a match Malton should have won even without the last-minute drama, but they were let down by inconsistencies and panic passing.