The first fixture of the season was an eye opener for the new Under 14 squad, as last year’s Yorkshire Cup finalists Old Brodleians took Malton & Norton apart in a powerful and controlled display of rugby.

Great control at half-back coupled with strong running centres and excellent ball retention by the forwards culminated in a series of tries to which Malton had little in reply.

Missing several key players through injury and school commitments, Malton made no excuses and got on with the job, gradually reducing the Halifax side’s scoring rate, and eventually gaining a consolation score. Camped on their own line and in need on some inspiration, Tom Moore made a speculative break and managed to ship the ball on to Sam Harrison who gave left wing Laurence Keyworth half an overlap. Keyworth needed no second bidding and pinned his ears back to score from fully the length of the pitch. No doubt a bit out of breath, Keyworth’s conversion attempt was skewed wide from in front.

Old Brods finished Malton off with two late tries to complete an impressive performance.

Malton could take great encouragement from the performance of two new players, Josh Turner and Tom Southerton who showed particularly strong defence.

Man of the Match was awarded to Tom Moore

Following a heavy defeat last week, Malton were looking to get things back on track against York. However over recent seasons York have always proved too tough for Malton and today was no exception. York started very strongly and would have scored early on but for determined Malton defence. A York pass went to ground and Josh Evans was able to relieve the pressure with a big boot up field. From the line out Malton secured possession but a midfield fumble went straight to York hands and they broke away to score an unconverted try.

York followed up with a fine three-quarter move to put the left wing over in the corner. Malton fought back through a quick tap penalty by Sam Stephenson, which was taken on by Josh Turner and Gareth Hunt. Josh Evans kicked through and Laurence Keyworth raced on to the loose ball to score.

Malton competed strongly in the forwards but could not retain possession as well as they would have wished. York took advantage with a third try, which was well converted from out wide.

It took well in to the second half before Malton’s pace in the backs came to the fore. The forwards took a scrum against the head and quick hands gave Evans the space to scorch over. Next Keyworth outpaced the York defence to score a third, but York held on scoring two more tries.

Man of the Match was awarded to Richard Brown for a strong performance at prop.

Malton & Norton Under 14s’ unaccustomed run of defeats at the beginning of the season was extended by Pocklington who, to their credit played some very good rugby.

It was Malton who started stronger however. Jim Smith fired up the team with a big hit, bundling a Pocklington player in to touch. Fly half Will Prest turned a defensive position in to attack with a kick up field, as the ball bounced straight back in to the hands of right wing Tom Southerton. A try looked on the cards, but the defending full back did a great job in holding Malton out.

Pocklington had killed the ball and from the ensuing penalty a short tap set up a series of rucks from which Malton did well to retain possession. Finally hooker Ryan Lech, playing his first game for Malt, burst over to score. Sam Davies’ conversion attempt shaved the post, but on the wrong side.

It did not take Pocklington long to get in to their stride, with a big and fast running number eight making inroads in to Malton’s defence and then finishing off a flowing move with excellent support play.

Malton continue to suffer from long term injuries, with four team regulars acting as interested spectators on the touchline. This, coupled with other unavoidable absences severely weakened the squad, requiring several players to operate out of position and placing extra responsibility on less experienced players. Whilst all gave of their best, the cracks began to appear in the defence, and mistakes were made under pressure. Pocklington ran in four more tries with some simple but effective play creating overlaps, and some missed tackles further weakened Malton's position.

Malton picked up their play in the final minutes with two impressive runs by Josh Turner and Sam Harrison, offering encouragement that results will soon improve.

Back to winning ways for the Under 14 team with a comprehensive win against a Whitby team who are inexperienced, and who arrived down on numbers. Several Malton players stood in for Whitby to make a more competitive match than the scoreline would suggest.

Malton started off very brightly with a series of forward drives resulting in a scrum on the Whitby twenty-two metre line. Fly half Dan Asquith played a miss move with centre Kit Wilson and span a long pass to Gareth Hunt, who drew his man and sent Laurence Keyworth over on the left corner.

Next up the forwards again provided the platform, sucking in the Whitby defence leaving space out wide, which Asquith exploited again, switching with right wing Tom Southerton who ran a lovely line to split the remaining defenders. If Whitby were beginning to come to terms with what Malton were capable of, a third try straight from the kick off must have stunned them. Number eight Sam Harrison caught the kick, and ran fully seventy metres to score a third Malton try.

Malton’s fourth was a fine team effort. Graham Harrison fielded a Whitby kick and ran purposefully, evading several tackles. From the ensuing ruck, Asquith found Harrison on his shoulder, who made good ground before passing to Keyworth. He almost made the line himself but was stopped short. Kit Wilson was up in an excellent supporting position and took the ball to the line before Gareth Hunt picked up at the ruck and forced his way over.

Jim Smith followed up a fine forward drive to score after Josh Turner had driven deep in to Whitby territory.

Whitby maintained good discipline and effort and were rewarded with two tries. One was scored by Malton player Sam Harrison after a midfield fumble, and Whitby’s man of the match, the scrum half, scored a fine solo effort.

Quick thinking by Sam Stephenson set up the next Malton score, taking a quick tap penalty after Whitby were caught offside in midfield. Gareth Hunt called for the pass and burst through two defenders to score.

The forwards created the next as Graham Harrison caught a clean lineout ball, and was driven on by the pack. Jonathan Cattle peeled away from the maul and drove on before feeding Josh Turner to score. Cattle contributed significantly to the next try – whilst Josh Turner’s storming run caught the eye, it took Cattle to tidy up on the deck to create the next phase. Jim Smith powered over from the twenty two leaving several tacklers in his wake.

Cattle’s growing influence was rewarded with the next try, and this time Smith repaid the compliment by breaking through the defence and setting up Cattle to score.

Tries were coming from all quarters. A strike against the head allowed Archie Fothergill, on at scrum half for the injured Tom Moore, to make ground and to feed centre Kit Wilson. He cut back inside with power and pace and scored under the posts.

Yet more to come as Keyworth rounded off the scores. A short penalty set up several forward drives and tied in the Whitby defence. A yawning overlap on the left could not be exploited as a wild pass missed the centres. However, Dan Asquith gathered the loose ball and switched to the right flank. He drew an oncoming forward by passing to Fothergill, who repeated the move to put Keyworth over on the right wing.

A valiant effort by Whitby, coupled with good sportsmanship by those Malton players who helped Whitby make up the numbers. However the Malton performance showed the value of an all round team game.

The Whitby coach awarded Malton Man of the Match to Jim Smith who particularly impressed in the loose.

Next Week – home versus York.

Driffield had a depleted squad, whereas Malton arrived with an embarrassment of riches with a squad of 23, including four new players. Several Malton lads gamely played for Driffield, who competed strongly throughout but were no match for Malton’s combination of forward strength and pace in the backs.

Nine tries were scored in all and seemingly from anywhere on the pitch. Two hat trick heroes were Sam Harrison and newcomer Tim Lam. Lam opened the scoring after a midfield tackle saw Driffield dispossessed and Lam’s speed exploited a gap on the left wing.

Harrison was unstoppable in open play, his first try coming from a pivot move from a tap penalty.

Sam Stephenson scored from a hack on by Kit Wilson after Josh Turner had burst through. Rupert Garland, another new player, finished a fine break by Will Prest who benefited from a fine scrum-half pass by Archie Fothergill.

Lam’s pace was causing havoc, and he scored a second from a fine set move midfield switch between fly half Dan Asquith and centre Garland creating the overlap.

Harrison exploited a period of low Driffield morale to score two long range efforts, bursting through tackles at will. Josh Evans scorched over after Prest and Tom Francis had created the overlap from a tap penalty on Malton’s own twenty-two metre line. Lam finished off the scoring after a scrappy passage of play.

The forwards put in the hard graft with some excellent driving mauls, and newcomers Zac Priestley and Ollie Wilkinson can be proud of their debut performances.

Man of the Match was Sam Harrison – next week East Yorkshire training at Driffield Rugby Club.

A resounding win for Malton & Norton in the first round of the Yorkshire Cup, overcoming a strong Wetherby outfit who were visiting the Gannock for the first time.

The match kicked off in appalling conditions. Driving rain did not promise to deliver quality rugby, but Malton defied the weather with a great performance.

Early forward pressure set the tone. The front row of Scott Howe, Jonathan Cattle and Richard Brown gave their opponents a torrid time and stole a succession of scrums against the head. From one such strike number eight Sam Harrison picked up from the base and flipped an inside pass as Wetherby drove him towards the touchline. Brown took the ball on and second row James Smith picked up from the ensuing ruck to drive over and open the scores.

Malton pressure then forced a five metre scrum on the Wetherby line. Fly half Will Prest called a double miss move with centres Kit Wilson and Gareth Hunt, creating an overlap for left wing Laurence Keyworth to score. From the kick off Josh Turner drove in to the Wetherby defence. Prest picked up Turner’s offload from his toes and fed Hunt whose pace and strength saw him run in the third try.

In to the second half and Malton gave no sign of letting their lead go to their heads. Scrum half Tom Moore pressured a Wetherby defensive kick, which landed dangerously midfield. Full back Sam Davies switched play quickly and passed to Keyworth to round the defence and score. Keyworth followed up with a weaving run to set up a scrum close to the Wetherby try line. Sam Harrison picked up from the scrum and forced his way over.

Gareth Hunt scored a sixth to further demoralise Wetherby, and Malton’s substitutes took advantage to maintain the scoring. Dan Asquith spotted the Wetherby full back out of position and put in a strong punt upfield. Malton’s forwards seized the scrambling defender, turned over possession and Harrison pounced to finish the game off.

Man of the Match was awarded to flanker Sam Stephenson for a fine all round performance.

A closely fought encounter between Malton & Norton and Hessle had two late twists in the tail.

A strong Hessle team opened the scoring early on after some poor Malton tackling midfield. Undeterred Malton began to exert pressure on Hessle with a series of short penalties, eventually forcing a poor defensive kick. Left wing Tom Southerton returned the kick with interest, Hessle finally pulling him down near the line. However lock James Smith was on hand to take the offload and to score.

Southerton again proved a thorn in Hessle’s flesh, rounding off a fluid three-quarter move and again being thwarted near the try line. This time hooker Jonathan Cattle was on hand, timing a run on the edge of the ruck to perfection and with good body angle forcing his way over.

The game ebbed and flowed. Hessle profited from two breakdowns in midfield to run in two more tries, before number eight Sam Harrison threatened to steal the match single-handedly.

His trademark powerful running caused havoc as he ran in two tries from a scrum and a tap penalty, both from around thirty metres out.

Back came Hessle again to retake the lead with their strong backs pressuring what was a makeshift Malton back line caused by injuries. Malton fought like tigers to get back in the game and a tremendous team effort seemed to have snatched victory when Harrison went over again from a five metre scrum.


A conversion attempt by fly-half Dan Asquith just dropped under the bar, agonisingly short. With seconds to go Hessle threw everything at Malton. The right wing appeared to have been tackled and stopped, but fought free and scored with the final move of the game, and crucially an easy conversion under the posts proved the final difference.

Debut appearances by George Lumley and Kearon Johnson, and match practice for several other inexperienced players were positives to take from the game.

Man of the match was awarded to Kit Wilson for a Captain’s performance.

Next week – away at Whitby.

Malton & Norton Under 14s visited Middlesbrough for the first time and after a well-contested encounter, they came away with the win. The late arrival of the Malton front row didn’t augur well, however Messrs Cattle, Francis and Howe soon picked up the pace and dominated in the scrum.

The first Malton score was a real team effort, with backs and forwards interlinking to create space out wide which centre Gareth Hunt exploited with a lovely swerve and hand-off to round the full-back.

The forwards claimed the second score. Hooker Jonathan Cattle drove in to the Boro defence and the pack mauled the ball over the line for lock James Smith to score. James Darwell added the extras. Twelve points to nil at half time and not much on offer from Middlesbrough apart from one or two strong running individuals.

Number eight Sam Harrison stretched the lead with a trademark pick up from a five metre scrum, and James Smith scored his second try as the forwards once again drove over as a unit.

Great credit to Boro for a resolute defensive effort, and they were justly rewarded by a breakaway try scored by the fleet footed full-back. A second score looked on the cards but for a tremendous defensive run by Malton flanker Graham Harrison.

Malton finished with a strong run to score in the corner by centre James Darwell.

Next Week – Home against touring team Old Sils.

Malton welcomed touring team Silhillians from the Midlands and a very competitive match, played to a high standard of rugby, was enjoyed by all.

Whilst Sils arrived with the traditional tired Sunday morning look of a touring team, their efforts on the pitch belied their initial appearance. A quagmire of a pitch did not help either side to play running rugby, and the first twenty minutes or so was spent camped in the middle of the pitch with neither side able to progress in the oppositions twenty two.

Once Malton forced their way up the pitch for the first time however, a scrum ten metres out offered all sorts of options. Number eight Sam Harrison chose the right one, picking up from the base of the scrum and forcing his way over in his trademark style. Five points to nil at half time, and Malton were able to play a key card, benefiting from a larger squad to bring on fresh legs.

The Malton forwards had set up a strong platform in the first half, and half backs Tom Moore and Dan Asquith had shown improved control, enabling several promising three-quarter moves. Half back substitutes Archie Fothergill and Matthew Clark carried on in the same vein in the second half, but the next Malton score came from the forwards, Several phases of close forward drives sucked in Sils’ defence until second row James Smith burst clear showing impressive pace to power over from a good twenty five metres out, to the delight of the Malton supporters. James Darwell converted to give a twelve point advantage.

It was at this point that it could have been expected that Sils would wilt at the end of a tour weekend, but the Midlanders showed great spirit, stamina and no little skill in forcing their way back in to game. A try was richly deserved and had the conversion, which slammed against the crossbar gone over, then Malton’s nerves may have been even more tested.

As it was, Malton found their way back in the game with the substitutes making a difference. Eventually quick ball, spread wide, found Harrison at his rampaging best, shrugging off would be tacklers to score under the posts with a forty metre run. Josh Evans added the extra two points to round off a great game of rugby.

Next Week – Home against Driffield

The third local derby of the season between these two sides saw Malton emerge the victors again, but not before Driffield had set Malt a stern test.

Driffield edged a close fought first half with their forwards outmuscling Malton and winning the majority of the possession. Working the narrow side Driffield put the right wing away, who profited from weak Malton tackling to score in the corner. Malton rallied at the end of the first half, turning deep defence in to a terrific rolling maul which drove Driffield back fully thirty metres, giving increased confidence for the second half.

Team changes at half time did not initially seem to benefit Malton as Driffield went a further five points up. A speculative high ball from the attacking twenty two metre line was not dealt with by the Malton defence and an onrushing Driffield player pounced on the loose ball.

Staring defeat in the face Malton picked up the pace impressively to get back in the game. Using the wind Sam Davies put in a huge kick upfield and the resulting chase forced Driffield to concede a penalty. From the tap penalty number eight Sam Harrison forced his way over near the posts, allowing a simple conversion for Davies.

Malton then stretched ahead with an excellent team try. Angus Ramsey had tidied up on the deck to secure possession deep in defence, and quick hands by fly half Dan Asquith and Kit Wilson at centre released Josh Turner to storm upfield. Crucially Turner was able to offload to left wing Laurence Keyworth whose well-timed run saw him score in the corner.

A deflated Driffield team were then crushed as from the kick-off Malton secured the ball, and Harrison positioned himself on Asquith’s inside to take a flat pass at speed. Shrugging off a couple of tackles Harrison found himself in space and showed great pace to run the length and score his second try. Davies added the extra two points.

Further forward drives saw Malton push back Driffield deep in defence. Hooker Jonathan Cattle drove on another phase to draw in the defence and quick ball gave scrum half Tom Moore the option to switch left for winger Tom Southerton to score a well deserved try.

Driffield rallied at the end but Malton held out for a very satisfying win.

The Under 14 squad of players and many supporting parents thoroughly enjoyed the annual tour, based this year in Blackpool at the delightful Stalag Pontins. As reports began to filter through of the Mini’s touring “arrangements”, Pontins seemed to grow in attraction, with only a mild ant infestation threatening life and limb. The social side of the weekend was highly successful with a mixture of Pontins karaoke and Blackpool’s nightlife catering for all tastes….. (enough said).

Oh, and we played some rugby as well! Our hosts were Fylde Rugby Club on the Saturday, and Ilkley Rugby Club on the Sunday and both Clubs were excellent hosts,   with a mixture of good rugby and a convivial welcome.

Fylde RUFC Under 14s 24, Malton & Norton 7

A great day out was enjoyed by all at Fylde who managed to host both Malton, Harrogate Minis and to stage a National League 3 North fixture against Hull Ionians and two other senior matches on the same day. A magnificent new Clubhouse was the backdrop, and the afternoon first team fixture proved to be a thrilling encounter ending in a 35 all draw.

The Under 14s match was equally competitive, played in an excellent spirit, and was very well refereed by a young Fylde third team player to whom thanks go for his willingness and his performance.  Fylde Under 14s are a strong outfit with several athletic runners who ultimately made the difference to take the win.

Malton were guilty of missing first up tackles to allow the strong runners to get up a head of steam, and to benefit from their home knowledge to exploit the gaps on a very wide pitch. Fylde scored with four long range efforts, the first after a kick upfield was not chased down by Malton’s back three, allowing the Fylde winger to round the defence. A second long run saw Fylde stretch the lead, before Malton replied with a typical Sam Harrison try, picking up from the base of the scrum to score from 22 metres out. James Darwell added the conversion.

Harrison then erred, crucially, and most unusually for him, having powered over the line again, he looked to get under the posts but was well chased by the Fylde defence, forcing an inadvertent foot over the dead ball line before the ball could be grounded.  Well spotted by the Ref but unfortunate for Malton, as parity at half-time would have been a fair reflection. As it was Fylde took a 14 – 7 lead at the turn around.

Fylde is well known as the home club of former Grand Slam winning England Captain Bill Beaumont, and Malton were pleased to hear that playing at centre was Bill’s son. Not that this helped when young Beaumont scored for Fylde. Two more scores stretched the lead, the fourth after the Malton kick-off, which was well intended to gain deep field position, bounced cruelly in to the dead ball area. From the ensuing centre spot scrum the Fylde number eight set off on another long range effort, and just as it seemed Malton must have the flank covered, so the extra width of the pitch saw the fine solo effort succeed.

In between there was more disappointment for Sam Harrison as what seemed a certain score was thwarted by a last ditch tackle to dislodge the ball.

All spectators felt the two “missed” scores would have made a big difference to the game, but Fylde deserved their win. A good, all round team performance by the Malton squad, who did the Club proud on what was a big stage for the boys.

Ilkley RUFC Under 14s 5, Malton & Norton 43

On to Ilkley, who had been visitors to Malton at the Under 14 Yorkshire Cup quarter final stage last season. A strong victory then gave Malt confidence going in to the match. Tradition normally dictates that the Sunday fixture of a weekend tour finds out those who have over indulged on the social side, however Malton belied the late nights and turned in a tremendous team effort.

This despite a Saturday afternoon game of water polo, for those who didn’t stay for the Fylde Ionians game, a night out on the town and a two hour bus trip, and then Malton were asked to pitch straight in the game with minimal warm up at the request of the Referee, who quite understandably had his eye on his Sunday lunch.

Ilkley did open the scores but this only served to wake Malton up for a seven try blitz of excellent team play. Ilkley’s early foray seemed certain to create a score before Kit Wilson took man and ball, wrapped him up and put him in to touch. However from the line-out, Ilkley profited from lax marking at the edge of a maul to go over.

Malton were straight back up to the Ilkley half, and the front row boys put Ilkley under pressure at a scrum. With their pack going backwards the llkley half-backs attempted to scramble the ball away, but left wing Laurence Keyworth charged the kick down and picked up to score. Keyworth scorched over again, benefiting from Adam Spaven’s quick hands in midfield, creating half an overlap for Keyworth to exploit.

Malton took this lead in to the break and turned around full of confidence. The forwards created the next try, a 25 metre driving maul setting up a line-out close in. A training ground move saw second row James Smith take a short throw at pace at the front of the line-out and to score with an unstoppable drive.

Malton were now rampant. A line-out on half way saw fly-half Dan Asquith put Keyworth away with quick hands on an inside crash ball. Keyworth made ground and sent out a long floated pass which created the overlap for centre Sam Davies to surge on at pace. From thirty metres out Davies toyed with the defence, with full back Josh Evans on his outside as an option, Davies backed his own pace which took him over.

Davies quickly scored his second. Set up by the forwards taking a scrum against the head, Keyworth fielded a kick ahead and offloaded to Sam Harrison whose link put Davies away, his pace finishing the job off.  Josh Evans put away an impressive long conversion, one of four that he scored.

Next up, the pack destroyed an Ilkley scrum creating scrambled possession for the Ilkley half-backs. Kit Wilson harried the fly-half and Adam Spaven dived through on a loose ball to score.

The final nail for Ilkley was a team try created by quick distribution. Kit Wilson again provided the midfield link with Josh Evans, to put Laurence Keyworth in space for a deserved hat-trick score.

Thanks go to Ilkley Rugby Club and the boys who turned up on the day, and to the Referee. Malton again did their Club very proud to round off a highly enjoyable tour.

On one last note, the Club Online Store should expect a surge in demand for the very desirable Malton Club fleeces (which, you may not be aware, are reversible) after a one-man, concerted sales campaign around the bars and clubs of Blackpool set new standards in the fashion stakes – no names, no pack drill…..

Malton & Norton Under 14s 10, Roundhegians RUFC Under 14s 53

Having achieved a creditable third place in the Harrogate “Super 10s” Festival the day before, a match up against Roundhegians offered the chance to ensure all squad players were given full games. Unfortunately the visitors from North Leeds were in no mood for sympathy for a tiring Malton team.

Strong and athletic, Roundhegians ran rings around Malton, scoring nine tries in total. Malton were always on the back foot, dealing with scrappy ball and making too many unforced errors.

Malton at least made the score sheet. A scrum on the visitor’s twenty-two metre line, after Roundhegians had spilled a Malton kick off, gave number eight Sam Harrison an opportunity to attack the blind side and to score.

A series of forward drives under the Roundhegians’ posts led by James Smith, undaunted despite a huge hit from the visitor’s prop, set up a platform for the backs to show what they can do. Quick hands gave Laurence Keyworth half a chance, and he took it well by handing off to squeeze in the corner.

Next week – Junior Presentation evening at 6.30 p.m. on Friday, and the Houghton-le-Spring Festival on Saturday.