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

Junior Rugby Union round-up

2:51pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in Junior Sport

Malton & Norton Under-12s enjoyed mixed fortunes in their tour of the Peak District.

The minis lost to Macclesfield 35-20 but shut out Sheffield 25-0.

Against Macclesfield, played over four 10-minute quarters, it looked like Malton would be overwhelmed at first. But, eventually, they started taking the game to the opposition.

Charlie Buchanan scored from a great break and Kieran Sykes also galloped to the line. Johnny Wray scored his first try for Malton.

Malton produced an excellent performance the following day against Sheffield. They were in top gear from the start with forwards and backs playing quality rugby and ran out deserved winners.

Malton & Norton U10s were also on tour in the Peak District.

They played Macclesfield first and were under pressure throughout the first half. After the interval, they got their attacking play going and the breakthrough came after three consecutive drives from rolling mauls. Oliver Kelsey eventually went over the whitewash.

Malt soon added a second try after the pack drove well to win a scrum five metres out from the Macclesfield try line and Adam Finlinson picked the ball up and crossed.

It was much of the same in the second match. Malton took the lead when Peter Hudson showed great turn of speed to break through the Macc defence and, after he was denied a try by a superb tackle, Billy Johnson was the quickest to react to pick the loose ball up and go over from 10 metres out.

In the second half, Malton added to their tally after a great pass out of a ruck from Thomas Barker to Peter Hudson, who side-stepped the defence to score.

Macclesfield took the game to Malton and scored a try themselves but Malt defended superbly and won 2-1.

Sheffield hosted Malton the following day and scored first after a quick penalty took the Ryedale defence by surprise. Sheffield kept up the pressure and scored again before the interval.

In the second half, Malton stepped their game up and scored as Adam Finlinson intercepted and ran in from five metres out. Malton looked like they might level the scores, but Sheffield scored again towards the end of the game and won 3-1.

Malton recovered in the second match, however, to beat Sheffield 5-2.

The hosts went ahead but Malton replied as Johnson finished a good move involving Barker. Johnson scored again to give Malton the lead and they never looked back.

They were 3-1 up at the interval when Barker scored after good work in the forwards.

Sheffield scored early in the second half but Malton soon extended their lead after winning a scrum against the put-in five metres from the Sheffield try line. Finlinson picked up from the back of the scrum to go over the whitewash.

Barker had the final try of the day when Johnson returned the favour after a good run and lay-off.

Malton & Norton U8s won two and lost three at the Driffield festival.

George Baldwin got both tries as they started with a 6-2 loss to a strong Goole team, but they beat York 4-3 in their next match with another two from Baldwin and tries from Ben North and Presley Carr.

Baldwin was again on the scoresheet twice as Malton lost 4-2 to Harrogate, but they bounced back to beat Driffield 5-2 thanks to tries by Sam Woodhead (2), North (2) and George Langworthy.

The final game saw Carr, awarded captain for his good teamwork, get the only try as Malton went down 3-1 to Selby.