Alnwick travelled to The Gannock on Saturday to play Malton & Norton RFC, their final trip to Yorkshire this season looking to preserve their lead at the top of North One East with only two further games to play after this.

The only change to the starting fifteen from last weeks’ thumping win at home to local rivals Northern saw props Clayton & Philips switch places to give extra bulk to the front row away from home. Accompanying Clayton pitch-side were Sutheran, back in the squad after injury lay-off and young winger Brewis who has been putting in some stellar performances for the second XV.

Malton exerted all of the early pressure and had a foothold in the Alnwick half of the field almost from the kick off. Winning good lineout ball it was clear that their midfield of Raduva, Rangiuira and Sodladla at full back, were keen to play an open running game, and these three local lads made regular ground into the Alnwick twenty-two, accompanied by second-row turned winger Fothergill, up against the much more slight Jonny Burn.

Unable to clear their lines effectively, or establish good ball from an unfortunately dysfunctional lineout in the opening quarter, Alnwick surrendered a lot of ground to their hosts, and it was no surprise that the deadlock was eventually broken in the far corner, after a sustained period of attack V defence. The conversion was missed however and only 5-0 behind, the away side did make a rare foray into the Malton & Norton half, first winning a penalty and then having it brought forwards 10m when a cynical tackle on the breaking Moralee halted further progress. Bird spliced the uprights and made the score 5-3.

Still Alnwick could not get into the game however, allowing the home side easy yards around the breakdown, and not securing their own ball well enough. Excellent tackling in midfield from Mallaburn & Cuthbert prevented further breakaways, but it was a familiar tale when on the stroke of half time, after increased pressure, Rangiuira crossed from a few metres out, the conversion successful (12-3).

With Sutheran on shortly before the break due to injury to Gray, and Clayton on at half time for Philips, the Alnwick pack began to get on top of their hosts and now playing down the hill, started making inroads themselves. Excellent breaks from Warcup, Hamilton and Burn established a foothold when a penalty in front of the sticks was dispatched by Bird (12-6), however failure to roll away at a ruck on the re-start would allow Malton to immediately re-open a nine point advantage (15-6).

It was from a tidy backs move soon after that Alnwick scored their first try of the afternoon. The break came from J. Burn who drew the full back and passed to brother Callum, who was well tackled by the scrambling defence. Moralee collected the ball at the tackle and put Cuthbert into space who had a simple run in for the try, unconverted (15-11).

Lifting the tempo of the game, Alnwick won a penalty on the home side’s five metre line and opted for the scrum following the sin-binning of full back Sodladla. The front row of Smith, Green & Clayton as well as Bird’s footballing skills at number eight saw the Malton pack obliterated over their own line, Bird touching down for the simplest of scores and adding the conversion himself (15-18).

A third try would soon arrive after excellent work by Atkinson following a loose clearance kick down the right wing. Slick handling from Warcup and Mallaburn saw J. Burn score in the left corner to open an eight point lead for the visitors, (15-23).

However, back to a full complement, Malton were afforded a good platform to play from in the Alnwick half, and despite trademark good defence from the Blue ‘n’ Gold, eventually Fothergill crossed, though not before Burn had roused the vociferous home crowd further by parading the large wingers’ modesty in the act of trying to stop him crossing the line! (22-23).

With ten minutes to play this game was either side’s, but an unfortunate series of penalties against Alnwick culminated in prop Smith leaving for the sin bin, and amongst a pile of bodies referee Robson awarded a try to Malton after a number of thwarted catch-and-drive attempts (29-23).

Alnwick now needed a converted try to win the game, and when Sutheran won the restart, Cuthbert broke tackle after tackle and J. Burn was released down the left wing, it looked as if they had got it. Quick thinking by the forward pack while the ball rested over the try line looked surely to have secured an extra-important fourth try of the afternoon, but instead a penalty was given allowing Malton to clear their lines and see out the rest of the game.

It must be said that on the day the best side won, and in particular the first half display left something to be desired from an Alnwick side still leading North One East. They now have games against two local rivals to complete the league season; first Percy Park come to Greensfield in desperate search of points to avoid relegation, followed by a trip to Morpeth on the final day. Alnwick must regroup and dig deep, for they have achieved nothing yet.

Alnwick: D. Smith, L. Green, C. Philips, M. Gray, J. Young, B. Courty, J. Hamilton, J. Bird, P. Moralee, J. Warcup, J. Burn, R. Mallaburn, R. Cuthbert, S. Atkinson, C. Burn. Subs from: D. Clayton, O. Sutheran, G. Brewis.

Next Fixture: Percy Park at Greensfield, 14th April, 3.00pm Kick Off.

Alnwick Rugby Football Club

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