| TECH made their
first ever visit to Malton & Norton's ground The Gannock on Saturday
but despite showing a lot of heart throughout they found the quality of
the home sides back division too much to deal with.
On a dark and dismal day the game kicked off with the
floodlights already on. After just two minutes the home side took the lead
through their full back HOUGH. The same player was given a chance to
increase his sides lead through the same medium just minutes later but saw
his attempt go wide.
On 8 minutes TECH got their first penalty which the
opted to run through the pack. Good driving saw them take play into the
home 22 but a hacked clearance by a home forward saw the pressure eased.
Before play could resume at the line out TECH forwards WRAY & BEST had to
receive treatment.
When running the ball at their hosts through their
forwards TECH looked in contention but the well drilled home side quickly
realised this and started to spread the ball wide to their speedy
back line at every opportunity. When having to scrummage they opted
for a quick feed before the scrum was settled and this effectively
nullified TECH's main strength.
As they started to run the ball Malton always looked
dangerous with No. 10 CREBER and centre CARNEY both very much to the fore.
Despite this the full TECH fifteen were showing a good level of
commitment. This was demonstrated fully by Mixie PARKER who was playing at
full back due to Nick DONNELY being a late withdrawal. He was called on to
make a great defensive tackle and having done so immediately got to his
feet before picking up the loose ball under pressure from several home
players.
Malton's pressure eventually paid off after 22
minutes when CREBER broke through the desperate cover. HOUGH added the
conversion.
From the restart a long kick by COLE was
quickly ran back into TECH territory before being moved to CARNEY who
crossed for a try which HOUGH again augmented.
TECH stuck at their task and after 30 minutes a fine
break by returning skipper Steve JONES saw him spin a long pass to winger
Jon COLE. He quickly made ground but with one man to beat opted to try to
put a grubber kick in behind the player which allowed a covering defender
to slide across and force the ball into touch. Both sides were putting in
lots of effort but scoring opportunities were kept to a minimum by the
determined defences, leaving the score at half time standing at 20-0.
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The second half started in
the same vein with TECH continuing to defend manfully. Their commitment to
the cause resulted in them suffering a number of injuries as players put
their bodies on the line. Eventually the home
pressure had to be rewarded and it was after 12 minutes of the half, more
good interplay saw the ball moved to replacement centre COOKE who made a
strong break brushing off would be tacklers to cross for a converted try.
TECH tried to hit back and a penalty saw them take play to 5 metres from
the home line. Good possession from the line out saw them drive forward
only for the chance to be lost when the referee gave a penalty to the home
side for someone pulling a would be tackler back by his shirt.
After 18 minutes TECH again conceded a converted
try. A fine break by CARNEY saw him breach the defence before the
ball was moved to winger PATEMAN who scored.
TECH's cause wasn't being helped by the injuries
they were suffering and after 20 minutes they were forced to shuffle the
side as 2nd row JUKES had to leave the field. He was replaced by Colin
DICKENSON. Just 5 minutes later they suffered further disruption as prop
Adam HOWARD had to retire with a thigh injury.
These disruptions just added to TECH's woes as their
hosts picked up the pace. They continued to run the ball whenever possible
and although the Grayfield side continued to work hard the pressure was
always going to tell. Time and again a tackled Malton player was able to
find a colleague up in support and this led to 4 further converted tries
being scored by the home side. This left the score at full
time standing at 62-0.
Despite what was TECH's highest defeat for some time
the side won respect from the opposition and supporters alike for
continuing to battle to the end.
Although they have had a very poor season to date as
far as results go the attitude of the players and the team spirit they
have forged has been very positive. With one or two players possibly
coming back in the next week or so they will look to build on those
positives and hopefully gain some reward from their endeavours in the
games to come.
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