1st XV Come Up Short

In what turned out to be an almost re-run of their high scoring game a few weeks ago, Goole travelled to Malton for their first league visit in over 20 years. Both sides sharing nine tries in this very entertaining and competitive encounter with Goole fighting to the very end to earn a try bonus, and a losing bonus point despite their overall performance being somewhat below what we have come to expect this season.
Malton kicked off with a gusting wind in their favour and started the match at a breath-taking pace, keeping the ball alive applying early pressure to the hard-pressed Goole defence before being rewarded with the first try of the match from quick tap penalty in front of the posts followed by the same pack driving maul that worked so effectively for Malton in the previous fixture at Goole. 7 – 0. This was closely followed by a second try that came from Malton’s talented young off-half, who jinked his way from a standing start on the centre spot to the try line past flat-footed defenders. 12 – 0 after just nine minutes with Goole struggling to match the high tempo start from the home side. To their credit, Goole came back into the game with the next ten minutes being played in the Malton half, winning two penalties that were kicked into the home team 22 for attacking lineouts only for them to come away emptyhanded. Goole did get a reward from a third penalty that was kicked for a lineout to set up a driving maul towards the Malton line with Eddie Newsum popping a pass to the supporting Ashton Neal to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try, 12 – 5. From the restart Goole kicked to try and relieve the pressure and Malton ran the ball back winning a penalty just outside the Goole 22. Once again, a quick tap caught the Goole defenders off-guard getting Malton on the front foot with strong carries that saw them go over for their third try as they moved the ball out wide. Whilst the conversion was unsuccessful the home side were building a useful lead as Goole struggled to cope with the fast pace of the Malton attacks that saw them get over the gain line with numerous carries. Will Townend, making a welcome return after his pre-season injury was replaced by Ollie Raynor at number 8 as the fast pace of the game took its toll, with Louis Sugden also coming on earlier replacing prop Blanchard.
This was now a key spell in the match with Goole lacking the defensive composure we have come to expect from the team. They managed to prevent the ball being grounded as Malton drove over the Goole try line and it was now a case of trying to get to half time without conceding any more points. Disappointingly that did not happen, with possession once again kicked away and the returning 50 – 22 kick getting Malton threatening once again. Quality ball from the line out was passed down the line resulting in Malton’s fourth and bonus point try with a shimmy from a standing start inside the Goole 22 saw the Malton attacker breeze through untouched to score under the posts for a converted try to bring the half time score to 24 – 5. A score that reflected the greater threat of the home team with Goole second best in all aspects of the game. The effort and commitment were there, but they looked a long way from the tight organised defensive unit that we have come to expect. No lack of effort, but just not clicking so far. However, with the wind now in their favour, the travelling supporters were now hopeful that they could get on their front foot and get back into the match.
Goole applied early pressure following an excellent 50 – 22 kick from Moore that give them their first visit of the half into the Malton 22. Good possession from the line out giving them an attacking platform and despite the early lack of progress and with advantage being played, Roberts finally broke through the Malton defensive line to offload to Sugden just short of the try line. Coates supported and was rewarded with the try converted by Holt and Goole were back in the game 24 – 12 with just three minutes of the second half played. Frustratingly Goole then spent the next 20 minutes in the Malton half of the field seeking another score without any success with fruitless 5m scrums, ineffective line out driving mauls, kickable penalties turned down and individual commitment rather than organised team tactics. The organised home team defensive line often driving the Goole ball carriers back outside of the 22 due to a loss of ground with each contact. With Malton a man down after a yellow card, Goole finally got the score they needed when slick hands along the back line gave Lill space out wide that he successfully exploited crashing through the last defender to score near the corner flag with Tom Holts excellent conversion closing the gap to 24 – 19 with plenty of time remaining.
This should have been the boost that Goole needed to go on and win the game but inexplicably they seemed to go off the boil and allowed Malton to get back into the game by giving penalties away and Roberts also getting yellow carded. A key indicator of this was when their scrum was destroyed by the Malton pack allowing them to create an attacking platform close to the Goole try line to power over from the all too familiar rolling maul. 29 – 19 with ten minutes remaining. To their credit back came Goole once again to score their own try bonus point try with Louis Sugden going over following a quick tap penalty from Coates, 29 – 26 with time remaining for Goole to win the game. Possession from the kick off was now essential to the outcome and Goole effectively lost the game away by giving Malton a clean uncontested catch from the kick off that allowed them to work their way infield and kick a penalty to extend their lead to 32 – 26 and win the match.
In summary this was a game that Goole could very easily have won despite being second best in many aspects of the match as they failed to produce the composure, organisation and penetration that we have seen in previous matches. Man of the match was given to Eddie Newsum for his overall contribution throughout the match.