Malton & Norton 33 North Ribblesdale 5

THIS game was over as a contest after 15 minutes as Malton ran in three converted tries during a rousing start.

The home side scored one of the quickest tries ever seen at The Gannock after just 30 seconds.

Hooker Jim Thornton gathered the long kick off and handed on to Sam Triffitt, who made good yards before passing to wing Ian Cooke.

He sliced through the visitors defence to race three-quarters of the length of the pitch before handing back to Triffitt, who covered the remaining 22 metres to touch down.

It was a sign of intent from the Ryedale side, who penned Ribb in their 22 in the opening period and, after a series of scrums, scrum-half Paul Angus used deft footwork to cross after No 8 Josh Heggie picked up from the base.

When centre Vus Dyantjies intercepted and ran 80 metres for his first try of the season, Zweli Sodlada’s conversions meant it was 21-0 with only 15 minutes gone.

The third try was a real blow as Ribb were showing signs of getting into the game through the efforts of hard-working John Paddley, strong running centre Jonny Moore and winger Ryan Gill, who made several spirited runs.

Ribb managed to stem the flow of points. They were stringing some promising moves together when another dropped ball was hacked on from halfway by Cooke, who received a friendly bounce of the ball into his hands as he went over in the corner. Sodlada’s fourth conversion made it 28-0 at half-time.

Ribb started the second half badly, dropping the kick off, and their cause wasn’t helped by injuries to Alex Naylor (pulled muscle) and Matthew Knowles (neck).

David Fox replaced Naylor at full back while the injury to Knowles resulted in Mick Carr moving to loosehead prop and Richard Lynn hooking.

The makeshift front row was under pressure and Malton scored their only try of the half when Heggie got a deserved score from a five-yard scrum.

Ribb were further depleted when the lively Gill was concussed but, despite the setbacks, they were still trying to move the ball.

Their efforts were finally rewarded when Stephen Moon brought Fox into the line. He went inside his man before sprinting away to put Simon Bolland in at the corner.

The last ten minutes were even with Carr looking more comfortable as Ribb’s makeshift scrum began to operate, but both back lines nullified each other and there were no further scores.

The injuries are a concern. Ribb, who already have Sam Boatwright recovering from concussion, now have Gill and Knowles causing worry.

There were pluses from the defeat. Richard Lynn more than held his own in the scrum while the return of Fox and Jonathan Richards are a boost to the back division.