Depleted Malton & Norton pay for slow start (From Gazette & Herald)

Depleted Malton & Norton pay for slow start

1:54pm Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport

PATCHED-UP Malton & Norton paid for a slow start as they opened their North One East campaign with a 23-6 defeat at Morpeth.

The Ryedale side, hit by holidays and farming commitments, failed to recover after conceding two tries inside the first five minutes.

With only two minutes on the clock, Malton conceded a penalty near halfway. Morpeth kicked to the corner and a clean catch and drive at the lineout produced the first try.

Three minutes later, the hosts doubled their lead. A kick over the Malt defence caused hesitation and Morpeth scored after a sweeping move to the line.

The lead became 13-0 when Malton conceded a penalty for holding on after a tackle.

Malton fought back with some good phases of pick up and drive to get within sight of the line. Alex Whitaker, pictured, and Sam Triffitt were to the fore, assisted by skipper Paul Dobson.

They were denied a try when they drove over the line only for the referee to deem the ball had not been grounded.

Shortly afterwards they got on the scoreboard with a penalty from Ali Heard when Morpeth, under extreme pressure, were penalised for obstruction under their own posts.

Heard struck again when the hosts failed to release the ball after a tackle to reduce the arrears to 13-6 at half-time.

Five minutes into the second half, Morpeth kicked a penalty when Malt were penalised at a ruck.

For long periods Malton held the upper hand, mainly through the pack, but could not get through the home defence.

Scrum-half Dan Cattle was a shining light with a couple of good breaks and intelligent use of the ball.

Morpeth rounded off the scoring with a converted try.

Malton spokesman Bill Laidler said: “It was not a good day at the office for us.

“Morpeth were deserved winners but we gifted them most of their points, which must cause some worry.

“Hopefully, the lessons will be learned and, with the return of some of those still absent because of holidays and farming commitments, things will be much brighter for the visit of high-flying Pocklington on Saturday.”

Malton: I Cooke, T Riddolls, J Dobson, A Heard, T Clark, C Ramsay, D Cattle, P Dobson, A Whitaker, N Salisbury, J Rounthwaite, S Emms (G Nutt), R Webster (C Creber), A Coe, S Triffitt.