Malton & Norton RUFC 35 - 7 Selby RUFC

Report by Ray Adamson

Buoyed by their first victory against Ribblesdale, Selby travelled to Malton determined to make an impression on the team currently lying in second position in the Yorkshire 1 Table. From the outset the visitors tore into their opponents and spent most of the first ten minutes creating, but ultimately failing to convert, a number of promising scoring chances, the first when a misdirected pass sailed beyond the winger into touch and a second when the passing just lacked the precision needed to finish the move clinically.

Once the hosts drove their way into the Selby half they began to show why they are one of the favourites for promotion as their forwards took control at both set piece and in the loose. Such was the dominance of the Malton eight that their prop forward Ben Boothman registered a hat trick of tries before the half time break, all the result of powerful surges that Selby had difficulty in containing. The one bright note of the half came on 30 minutes when the abrasive Rob Bourke, playing in the second row rather than his usual position at prop, stormed to the Malton line following a line out some 30 metres out, scattering defenders in his wake to cross for a tremendous individual score. With Scott Hunt adding the conversion Selby were back in the game at 12-7 but that was to mark their sole success of the afternoon as Malton soon regained the initiative and extended their lead to 17-7 at the break when Boothman was driven over for his third try.

Full back Ian Cooke slotted a couple of penalties for offside and a high tackle to give his side a 16 point advantage after just 8 minutes of the second period but despite having the upper hand, Malton found the Selby defence resolute and it took the home side a further 16 minutes to add to their total when skipper Ali Coe secured a winning bonus point for his side, crossing for a fine try converted by Cooke and sealing the victory at 30 points to 7. Selby's cause was not helped when Rob Bourke spoiled an otherwise impressive display by getting himself yellow carded for preventing a quick tap penalty for the home team and Malton eventually took advantage of their extra man by crossing for a fifth try in the final minute of the game, the score being credited to Number 8 Josh Heggie following a 5 metre scrum and several phases of play. The never say die attitude of the Selby team was amply demonstrated in time added on when an interception seemed certain to result in a sixth try for Malton but Tom Ambler showed a great turn of speed to turn and chase down the home three quarter to prevent any further score.

Despite the final score there were again some bright performances from the Selby fifteen who will be eagerly awaiting their next fixture against newly promoted Bradford Salem, with a realistic chance to register their second League victory of the season.