Close, but not close enough, sums up yet another frustrating day for Goole with a narrow losing bonus point defeat at Malton. With Doncaster Phoenix and Old Crossleyans both getting valuable wins, it leaves Goole adrift in the bottom position with just a solitary victory as the first round of league fixtures comes to an end.
Challenges once again for Goole forcing last minutes changes to the team, with Malcolmson and Greaves dropping out though sickness rather than the usual injuries that have dogged Goole since the start of the season. Louis Sugden came into the second row and Robert Shand joined the returning Sam Smith in the centre. First team debutant Jamie Drury joined the squad alongside Brandon Harman with Goole’s forwards coach, Alan Neal bravely stepping in to fill the bench. Yet, despite the late changes, Goole started the game well in atrocious driving rain and gale force windy conditions that resulted in the majority of the match being played along one touchline due to the cross-field wind. Yet, despite the early pressure Goole were unable to come away with anything more than a Rhys Moore penalty to give them an early 0-3 lead. With possession from the restart Malton pushed Goole back with a series of carries, each one getting them beyond the gain line and were rewarded with a try from their first visit into the Goole 22. The conversion went wide but it did not take the home side long to get a second unconverted try with the quality of Goole’s tackling not reaching the high standard of the previous week against Salem, looking slow and somewhat ponderous in defence. So, 10 – 3 down at half time and disappointed that they failed to get any more points from possession in the home team 22.
The wet, muddy and bedraggled Goole halftime huddle alongside the spectator stand in an attempt to find any shelter from the brutal conditions looked more like a sadistic punishment for the players, but to their credit they responded exceptionally and were rewarded with an early close range second half try. Eddie Newsum burrowing over following a series of unsuccessful try claims by a string of Goole forwards on the Malton try line, with Moore’s successful conversion bringing them level at 10 – 10. The rest of the half was instantly forgettable with the weather winning the day and resulted in the continued absence of any quality from either team. Goole could, and possibly should have scored in a carbon-copy 5m catch and drive re-run of their early try but were held up over the line but in the final play. Malton however were successful in their next visit to the Goole 22 with another close range try under the Goole posts to make the score 17-10. Then with late possession in the Goole 22, Malton secured the match with a series of 5m scrums near the Goole try line. With Walton and Shand off the field with injuries and the front row in disarray, it was the forwards coach Alan Neal that came on at prop to see the game out. With Malton opting for scrums in search of a try bonus point, Goole looked in dire straights but to their credit, and against all odds won a scrum penalty in the final scrum of the match with Neal now in the second row. Moore’s bringing the scrappy match to an end and a 17 – 10 victory for Malton.
Yet another disappointing outcome for Goole with a draw probably being the fairest outcome between the two evenly matched teams who slugged it out throughout the match in the dreadful conditions. Certainly not a game for the backs to enjoy with Goole’s rotating back row of Chantry, Newsum, Shand and Townend unsurprisingly making the greatest contribution on the day as well as being the muddiest players on the field. Chantry deservedly getting the Goole’s Man of the Match vote. Final mention to Liam Rogers, the match referee who did an excellent job in the conditions. So, with the laundrette now having the hardest job in washing the shirts, it is time to focus on the second half of the season that starts next Saturday with a home game against Morley who are currently on a good run of results. All we can do is once again keep our fingers crossed that we have more players returning from injury in the run up to the Christmas break.