Malton & Norton 20 West 34

By Dave Picken - September 11 2016
Malton & Norton 20 West 34
Early days but we are one point clear at the top of North One East after our first ever league win at Malton and Norton. At times we side made hard work of the five try win  despite never going behind and being disrupted by injuries and work commitments.

We even lost versatile forward Chris Atkins in the warm up when he damaged knee ligaments on the energy sapping tussocky pitch at The Gannon. Alex Barker had cried off with a training injury allowing 17 year old second row Jake Linighan another run out with the first team squad.


During the game injuries to Zac Southern and Lee Maddison  game meant we were down to the bare bones in the second half, with stand-in prop Ross Wood forced to continue despite suffering due to not being able to train during the summer. It's fair to say he left a few contributions on the pitch but none of his energy.

We began the game by conceding four penalties in the first five minutes but went  ahead in the same way we did against Huddersfield YMCA last week.


Centre turned winger Will Hilditch was the man to finish (pictured) after West forced a scrummage penalty in the home 22 and space was made out on the left.
Gavin Painter converted, and he was on target again when he opted to kick another penalty as the home side were once again penalised at the set piece.


Zac Southern became another victim of the long grass when he pulled a hamstring with Paul Moss coming on and Luke Mallinson dropping to full back.


Gavin Painter was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on. It allowed Malton to mount their first pressure of the half and run several penalties only for West to relieve the pressure when the home side were penalized themselves for holding on just meters from the posts.


Despite still being down to 14 men, we increased their lead to 15 points just after the restart whenSam Miller muscled his was over with Paul Moss narrowly wide with the conversion.


Malton finally got on the scoreboard with a penalty but that that was the cue for our best try of the afternoon.


Centre Liam Checksfield intercepted as Malton attacked from deep.The ball was sped quickly left with Mallinson coming into the attack and almost reaching the line as he cut inside two defenders. We had players in support and the ball was quickly offloaded for Moss to go over.


Gavin Painter's conversion took the score to 22-3 with the only question being how long would it take us to get their fourth try and earn that important bonus point.


However, Malton and Norton's Foreign Legion had other ideas. Full back Xolela Payi, from a South African township, had been keen to counter attack all day and together with his countryman Vus Dyantjies set up the first of a hat trick of tries for Australian winger Blake Spencer.


All three were scored in the left corner after the South Africans carved holes in the West defence with Spencer the beneficiary as the cover was spread wide.


Spencer's first score came just before the hour mark with a superb touchline conversion from Payi, but there was a quick reply as we attacked from from the restart.


A series of pick and go's had the home defence going backwards with Checksfield the player to benefit as gapsappeared to give us our bonus point.


Undaunted Malton came back and a delightful scissors in midfield between Payi and Dyantjies created the space for Spencer to get his second.


Payi's conversion was wide, which kept us two scores ahead. The gap was shortened when Spencer completed his hat trick with Payi's third long range attempt coming back off the crossbar.


However, any fears the considerable West support had of their side being overhauled were quickly put to bed. We attacked up the left with Gavin Painter spotting a gap in the home defence and his finely judged kick through was chased down by Checksfield who just managed to touch down before the ball went dead.


Painter's conversion completed the West scoring, but Malton almost got themselves two bonus points when Payi was sent racing clear just inside his own half. However, referee Richard Arthur brought play back for a forward pass few had seen.


Malton & Norton: Xolela Payi, Blake Spencer, Vus Dyantjies, Rob Armitage, Nick Bastow, Ian Cooke, Angus Whitney, Liam Vaughan, Simon Thompson, Ben Boothman, John Lumley, Sean Emms, Tom Lowry, Sam Triffitt, Ali Coe,


Reps (all used): Nick Salisbury, Tim Casey, Harry Shepherd.


Tries: Spencer (3)


Cons: Pay (1)


Pens: Payi (1)


Yellow: Triffitt.


West: Zac Southern, Luke Mallinson, Liam Checksfield, Peter Youll, Will Hilditch, Gavin Painter, Ryan Painter, Adam Coates, Andrew Rollins, Ross Wood, John Bunter, Joe Rafferty, Lee Maddison, Dan Boatman (capt), Sam Miller.


Changes: Paul Moss, Jake Linighan.


Tries: Checksfield (2), Hilditch, Moss, Miller


Cons: G Painter (3)


Pens G Painter (1)


Yellow: G Painter


Referee: Richard Arthur (Central Yorkshire)

 
Malton & Norton 20 West 34
Posted by: Official West Hartlepool RFC (IP Logged)
Date: 11/09/2016 11:47


Re: Malton & Norton 20 West 34
Posted by: West Park Allotment (IP Logged)
Date: 12/09/2016 09:50

Great start to the season well done to all involved. Hope the in juries are not too bad but this season we do seem to have better strength in depth.

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