Malton & Norton lucky to beat Old Crossleyans 22-14 (From Gazette & Herald)

Malton & Norton lucky to beat Old Crossleyans 22-14

10:20am Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Sport

BELOW-PAR Malton & Norton were let off the hook as they beat visitors Old Crossleyans 22-14 in North One East.

Crossleyans led 14-10 at half-time at The Gannock and spurned a host of penalty chances as the home side hit back to claim their 10th win of the campaign.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: “It was not a good day for Malton, but there are a number of players returning from injury to strengthen the squad.”

On Saturday (2.15pm), Malton travel to Old Brodlieans to play a rearranged league fixture.

Laidler added: “With safety almost guaranteed, they can now relax and play some of the rugby they are known for.”

After an enforced lay-off due to the wintry weather, there was more than a hint of rustiness in the performance of both Malton and Old Crossleyans.

During a promising opening, Malton looked like taking the visitors apart and when they were awarded a penalty in the second minute Ali Heard stepped up to calmly slot the ball between the posts.

However, they then relaxed the pressure and allowed Crossleyans back into the game.

Within two minutes the scores were level when Malton were penalised at a breakdown. Visiting scrum-half Ian Cockroft levelled the scores.

Malton were harried into mistakes and the visitors took the lead with another Cockroft penalty after 20 minutes when Malt again transgressed at the breakdown.

Five minutes later Malt regained the advantage. After being awarded a penalty five metres from the Crossleyans line they opted for a scrum.

Number eight John Dobson picked up and fed scrum-half Tom Collard, who made a strong break for the line and stretched his arm to the limit to get the touchdown for Heard to convert.

Crossleyans were allowed back into the game when Malt were again penalised at a ruck for Cockroft to add to his tally after missing two previous attempts. Then, in first-half injury time, Malton again contrived to give the visitors a lift by giving away possession in centre field.

Getting the ball wide early gave them the overlap they needed to send hooker Wheale over in the corner for an interval lead after a disappointing half of rugby.

After the break Malt appeared to have recovered from their malaise.

Taking the ball cleanly from the kick off, they quickly got it moving across field to the threequarters.

An initial break by centre Ryan Lonsdale was carried on by winger Josh Saunders and full-back Ian Cooke before Heard scorched over from 40 metres. Heard also converted.

Old Crossleyans refused to submit and continued to harass Malton and force mistakes, but Cockroft failed to make the most of Malton’s increasing penalty count.