Junior Rugby Union round-up (From Gazette & Herald)

Junior Rugby Union round-up

3:38pm Wednesday 30th November 2011 in Junior Sport

Malton & Norton Colts must surely move from being a competitive side to a winning one some time soon.

They hosted table-toppers Wharfedale at the weekend and lost 37-30 in an entertaining encounter, paying for poor defence at times.

Malton again started slowly and fell 5-0 down. A penalty from Chuck Ramsey followed by his own converted try put Malt 10-5 ahead but missed tackles saw the visitors level.

Joe Godliman and then Joe Payne scored well-constructed tries but those were more than matched by the visitors, who went 32-20 up before Malt full-back Tom Clark crossed.

Another midfield break opened up the home defence leading to a try in the corner, before a great drive by the big Malton forwards brought about a converted try for second-row Cole Goodchild on his first appearance of the season to at least give Malt the last say.

Malton & Norton U17s put in their best display of the season to beat Hull Ionians 17-5.

Ionians scored a breakaway try early on but were reduced to defending, which they did very well, for most of the game as Malton starved their guests of possession.

Ionians’ dogged defence ensured Malt hit the interval with only a James Bulmer penalty in the bag but from the restart the hosts turned the heat up. A scything run from Danny Boddy opened the defence and deft handling by Charlie Darmody and Rob Dempsey put Joel Walton away in the corner. Then centre Neil Adams broke through the back division, feeding Charlie Greswold, who raced to the posts. Bulmer goaled both tries.

Jack Young scored a hat-trick as Malton & Norton U16s got back to winning ways beating Selby 19-10.

Selby went ahead with an unconverted try but after a little time Malt responded and began to take the game to the opposition. The rewards soon came as Jack Young twice scored, Alex Caine converting one.

The second half brought more of the same and the Young/Caine combination soon brought another score. Selby bagged a try but it was mere consolation.

Malton & Norton U14s lost 51-19 at Castleford, though the game was more competitive than the scoreline suggests until the final quarter.

For Malton, Tom Moody went close before the ball squirted out to his centre, Tom Thorn, who dived over, and Ben Tenge sprinted home after breaking through, James Wood goaling.

It was still close in the second half when Lucian Watts outpaced the defence, Wood’s goaling superbly, but then Cas went clear.

Malt’s Tom Turnbull showed determination at scrum-half and Alastair Stent tackled and rucked well. The man of the match was John Vasconcelos, switching from hooker to prop.

Malton & Norton U11s drew 7-7 with Market Rasen and lost 21-5 to Hull Ionians.

Winger Alex Ball crossed and Iain Oakley converted in the first game and, in the second, Max Twiddle went over from a turned-over scrum, only for Ionians to go clear in the second half.

Malt then came from behind to beat Market Rasen 14-7 in a short game with tries by forwards Rob Firby, battling through the pack, and Archie Johnson. Oakley (2) and Joe Browne added conversions.

Malton & Norton U10s lost 2-0 Hull Ionians in the first game but drew the second 2-2.

Missed tackles after the break ruined a good first half in the opener, though Thomas Barker later went close. In the second game, good defence and quick handling produced a try for Alex Chalton, and Billy Johnson crossed after superb tackling by Oliver Kelsy. But Ionians hit back and levelled at the death.

A strong Malton & Norton U9s squad of 15, including many new faces, took on Hull Ionians at home.

Excellent team play in the first game was led by captain Max Lane with support from George Welch and Ollie McBeath. Leon Cook broke through twice in the first half – only for Ionians to level after the break.

Malt won the second game 3-0 with two more from Cook and an excellent break rewarding Alastair Keen.

Danny Mullaney, Welch and Connor Saxby were unlucky not to cross.

John Armstrong also stood out.

Malton & Norton U8s also hosted Hull Ionians. Malton trailed 3-1 at half-time of the first game but some excellent rugby made it 5-5 at the end with Malt tries coming from captain Jonty Cawkwell (2), William Cussins (2) and Ben North. The second match could have gone either way, Ionians winning 7-6. Malt’s tries came from Presley Carr (2), Cawkwell (2), Cussins and Matthew King. Carr and Matthew Ireland starred.

Malton & Norton U7s hung onto their unbeaten start to the season with a hard-fought draw at home to Hull Ionians. Benjamin Brambles, Matthew Saxby and Toby Welch all crossed twice for Malt.