Malton & Norton U13s defy Driffield as squad shows its worth (From Gazette & Herald)

Malton & Norton U13s defy Driffield as squad shows its worth

12:29pm Wednesday 16th November 2011 in Junior Sport

Malton & Norton U13s won 52-7 at Driffield – vindicating head coach Steve Hayhurst’s strategy of splitting the under-13s into two squads.

The development squad had lost at Driffield a fortnight earlier but the relentless power of this Malt pack combined with a new injection of pace and purpose from the backs gave Ryedale success this time.

Harry Butler bagged a hat-trick, with other tries coming from Owen Hayhurst, Jacob Stephenson, Josh Spittal, Joe Nordli, Charlie Corner and James Walker.

Malton U13s development squad gave a brave display but paid for missed tackles in a 52-7 defeat at Wetherby.

Jamie Knaggs bulldozed through a couple of times but team-mates were often slow to follow. Ryan Donaghy tackled well, Ryan Kirk made good runs and Tom Pycock worked hard to link forwards with backs. Elliott Hockenhull, at scrum-half, was the pick, while Josh Wainwright, in his third game, and Darren Church, on debut, did well. Tyler Hodgson got a late consolation try, Jake Newsome converting.

Malton & Norton U12s lost 17-7 to Harrogate and 12-7 to hosts Wetherby in round-robin games.

An improved second half in the first game saw George Turnbull and Aidan McCourt cover acres of ground while Charlie Buchanan found gaps and put Keiran Sykes in for a try. Ed Turvill, standing in at scrum-half, and Jordan Smith, at full-back, did well. Malt were better in the second match, Sykes getting an equalising try and Buchanan an excellent drop-goal conversion, only for the hosts to bag a late winner against the run of play.

Malton & Norton U11s beat Castleford 28-7 and Wetherby 33-7.

Cas were short so Malt loaned them Tom Jones and Archie Peckitt in the first half and Alex Ball and Max Twiddle in the second. Malt’s tries came from Francis Rowe, Twiddle, Peckitt and Andre Robson.

Malt began poorly against Wetherby before improving in the second half. The scorers were Iain Oakley, Jack Clark (2), Matthew Jefferson and Joe Browne.

Conversions on the day were added by Browne, Oakley (3), Clark (2), Tom Jones and Archie Johnson.

Malton & Norton U9s won their opener at Wetherby 1-0, Connor Saxby’s flash of speed getting the try, but they lost the next two matches 3-0 and 6-3.

Malt bunched up too much in the second game, and Wetherby’s strength also won out in the third, Malt missing tackles, though driving well and registering ripostes through George Welch, Wilfy Duree and Leon Cook. Max Lane, Ollie McBeath and Leon Cook stood out.

Malton & Norton U7s continued their unbeaten start with a 10-4 win at Wetherby.

Excellent tagging saw Wetherby largely stifled while Malt scored tries through Benjamin Brambles (3), Alex Clark (3), Toby Welch (3) and Matthew Saxby.