Following their tour visit to Yiewsley Drive last Easter, Malton & Norton have begun fixtures across the whole range of junior levels.
For their return match, the Under-17s travelled to Malton where they won 60-0. Tries came from Danny Alsop (2), Chris Dodd (3), Mark Zissler, Jason Elliott, Keith Dodds, Adam Hunt, and Ben Charlton, with conversions from Jason Todd (3), Mark Zissler and Ben Charlton.
The scoreline did not do justice to M&N's efforts, and indeed only consistent, and sometimes desperate, defensive actions could keep them out.
DMP Under-16s visited Sunderland RFC on Sunday for their opening match of the season. From the kick-off the Mowden lads took the game to Sunderland, dominating the early exchanges in both ruck and maul. Sunderland were unable to break out of their own half and the pressure eventually told when centre Darryn Thompson took a quick penalty some ten metres out and touched down - he duly added the conversion for an early 7-0 lead. Sunderland's efforts to immediately respond were then nullified by some excellent defensive line kicking by centre Adam Gardner and fly half Adam Webb. Further sustained pressure on the Sunderland line resulted in a try for Adam Gardner following a chase (of his own kick-ahead) to the touchdown - again converted by Thompson. The lead was further extended just before half time with a brace of converted tries for lock and pack leader Neil Morgan following excellent work from the forwards. Both tries came as a result of continuous pick and drives from ruck situations, following seizure of primary possession from the line-out. This aspect of the game pleased the coaching staff and travelling supporters immensely and bears testament to the hard work the lads have put in over the summer months to come to terms with lifting.
The second half continued in the same vein as the first, with Mowden dominating the good possession and asking questions of the Sunderland defence. Ten minutes in and another try looked inevitable as prop Dale Patterson stormed towards the line from a quick penalty only to be halted a foot short by a brave tackle. The play then became a little scrappy and half way through the half Sunderland got themselves on the score sheet with a converted try from their centre, which followed some slack tackling from the Mowden mid-field. The response from the Mowden lads was immediate and impressive with a surging forward drive, again from line-out possession, yielding a try for flanker cum prop Richard Hughes who was ably assisted by hooker Dominique Lewis. Ten minutes later another try followed following some excellent inter-play between centres Gardner and William Barker allowing winger Nicky Barker a clean run to the posts for an excellent try. As the game waned to its inevitable conclusion, the tackling became a little lacklustre and slack allowing Sunderland the consolation of running in two late tries to make the final score 46-19 to DMP.
The first game of the Under-15s' season turned out to be a very hard fought 13-7 victory for the squad against an enormous Blaydon team.
At half time the score was 0-0. Both teams made several changes at half time ensuring that the entire squad had at least half a game.
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