MALTON & Norton were made to battle hard in atrocious conditions before sealing an 18-10 victory at struggling North Ribblesdale to maintain their super run in Yorkshire One.

Following heavy overnight snow and almost continuous rain in recent weeks, the pitch was almost saturated. However, it was playable, and Malton, normally a free-running rugby outfit, showed a different side to their game to bag the spoils.

The Ryedale side are now clear in second place in the table but still trail Doncaster Phoenix, who just about kept their 100 per cent record intact with a narrow win atXX.

Malton spokesman Bill Laidler said: “If you wish to succeed you have to perform on all surfaces to grind out results.

“This was the first time this current side have encountered heavy and cloying conditions and they showed that they can still produce the goods with some hard graft.

“The back row were outstanding, particularly in the second half, but the remainder of the pack were not far behind and put in a good shift at the coal face.”

Malton take a rest this coming Saturday before resuming their promotion push against Old Brodlieans at The Gannock the following weekend.

It was great credit to the Settle-based club that Saturday’s match took place at all given the bad weather.

The home side were fired up, too, and showed plenty of spirit, especially in the forwards, putting Malton to the sword during the first half.

Malt’s attempts to play a fast open game produced a number of mistakes and the home side were quick to seize on anything loose and boot the ball upfield.

Ball retention was difficult in the conditions and Malton suffered midway through the half when Ribblesdale turned over possession in midfield. As Malt’s defence ball-watched, the impressive home full-back burst through to register the first score of the game, the conversion being good.

Four minutes later, Ribb were unlucky not to get another score as a good move was halted and cleared only by last-ditch defence.

This recovery seemed to breathe fresh impetus into Malton. Prop Rob Featherstone recovered possession in centre-field and, assisted by hooker James Thornton and fellow prop Nick Salisbury, set up a drive into home territory.

With the defence dragged into the drive, Malt released the ball to the backs for Ian Cooke to weave his way to the try-line to cut the gap at half-time to 7-5.

Malton went further behind after three minutes when a stray hand in a ruck gave the home side an easy penalty, but a change to tactics in the second half paid off.

Malt’s pack are at their best when keeping the ball close and driving with purpose into the opposition.

This began to work as the back row of Ali Coe, George Harrison and Sam Triffitt swarmed all over the hosts to keep them pinned in their own half for long periods.

As the Malton pack began to dominate so the pressure on the home line increased, and a high tackle in front of the posts gave Zweli Sodladla the chance to make the score 10-8 with a penalty.

The play was now almost entirely in the Ribblesdale half and the home defence pulled out all the stops to hold Malton at bay. But, on 65 minutes, the visitors struck to go ahead for the first time in the game.

A series of mauls advanced slowly towards the whitewash and, with ball control almost perfect, there was no way the home side could lay a hand on it.

With the ninth phase of play, Featherstone burrowed over to add to his increasing try tally, with Sodladla adding an excellent conversion from the touchline.

As Ribblesdale ran out of steam so Malton grew in stature and confined play to the hosts’ territory.

But Ribb were always capable of breaking out and it wasn’t until the final minute that Malton could relax.

After another period of pressure, the visitors gained a five-metre scrum in front of the posts. From the resultant ruck, the alert Sodladla somehow conjured up a fine drop goal to seal Ribblesdale’s fate and deny them a bonus point and secure victory for a relieved Malton.

Malton: I Cooke, V Dyantjies, J Heggie, M Perkins, B Woodhouse, N Daley, Z Sodladla, N Salisbury (J Lumley), J Thornton, R Featherstone, J Rounthwaite (D Cooke), S Emms, G Harrison, S Triffitt, A Coe. Sub not used: T Casey.

 

Date set for summer ball

MALTON & Norton will stage their 2015 Summer Ball at The Gannock on Saturday, June 13.

There will be a drinks reception at 7pm followed by a three-course dinner served at 8pm.

The entertainment will be provided by Doctor Thirsty and a disco. Bacon buns will be served at 1.30am.

The dress code is black tie and there will be a charity auction and raffle.

Tickets cost £75 for tables booked and paid for in full by January 31. The cost after that date is £80.

Further information is available by phoning Sarah Tate-Smith on 07801 834686 or Eric Watson on 07711 052534, or by emailing maltonrugbyball@gmail.com