Malton & Norton 29 Rochdale 24
On a glorious spring day in North Yorkshire Dale fielded a much changed side with Callum Hill at fly half and Ben Kershaw in the centre, Dougie Poole back in the front row. Malton are mid table but safe and Dale having been crowned League Champions at the last home game against Bradford Salem you could be forgiven for thinking there was little to play for but both sides gave a fine display of running rugby with long passes and very little kicking. Malton were first on the score sheet after winning a couple of scrums the break from half way saw a series of long passes well taken and a try scored and converted 7-0 after 10 minutes.
Dale were soon back on the attack and even with star centre Tom Hesketh missing replacement centre Ethan Poole was soon showing why he is considered one of the most powerful runners in the league, a break from midfield provided the pivot to see Callum Hill and Danny Joesbury work a nice passing move just held up short of the Malton try line. Play was held up with a shoulder injury to Dougie Poole forcing him off, Dale continued to use the pace of captain Josh Schofield and Ben Sunderland to penetrate the home defence and on 20 minutes Sunderland outpaced his markers to score a try near the posts Hill converted so 7-7 in a real toe to toe battle, 5 minutes later it was Malton after winning a line out on the Dale 22 again swung the ball wide for a try wining pass to the winger Packer to score cutting in under the posts with the conversion made it was 14-7.
Minutes later it was Dale on the attack following a penalty to the Malton 22 and good take by Chris Hodgkinson in the line out the Dale forwards took the ball in and made good ground finally crossing the try line the conversion went just wide so 14-12. Malton carried on running ball with fly half Bulmer feeding his backs Dale defended well as ever but gave away a silly penalty 30 m out in front of the posts Bulmer took a shot at goal and the ball flew over in the still conditions.17-12 .As ever Dale bounced back and when Schofield took a good catch from a high Malton clearance kick and charged into the home defence he was taken into touch on the 22, Dale won the scrum and the passing move that followed was vintage Dale ending new boy Jack Holt crossing the line, again the kick went wide so the half time score was 17-17.
The second half started with Harry Hill restored to the pack along with Harry Hayes and the same long passes from the home side took the play from one wing to the other and finally a gap in the Dale defence saw the Malton winger in for their third try which was converted to make it 24-17. From the re-start Dale conceded a penalty which led to a line out on their 22 well contested the ball did not go cleanly to the Malton backs and Dale were a warded a scrum on their own 22. All end to end stuff with Poole and Emerson Lopes battering the Malton defence and forcing errors , young Ben Kershaw was doing well in the centres and when another long pass by Malton crossed his path on half way he took the ball and ran in a great solo try under the posts with the conversion a formality it was 24-24 with minutes left. Many in the crowd thought this would have been a good result but the referee decided to play on beyond the 80 and despite Dale getting a penalty taking them to the Malton 22 the ball failed to reach touch and the attack by the home side led to a scrum on the Dale 10 metre line the scrum half passed to the winger on the blind side who managed to squeeze in at the corner making the score 29-24 as the referee blew the final whistle.
A disappointing end to a great season but the performances of the new players coming into the side shows the depth of talent at club. Next week it’s the Papa John’s cup at Waterloo in a two legged tie.
Well done to the Senior Colts beating Wilmslow in the semi final of their cup 33-6.
David Rhodes R.R.U.F.C.