Brods dig deep to defeat Malton but Rishies lose out in Bridlington clash

OLD BRODLEIANS followed up on last week’s win over Moortown with a hard-fought 8-5 success at Malton and Norton in North One East.

The hosts crossed the tryline only for the ball to be held up but the pressure finally told when Malton registered the opening try of the game.

Brods responded with Danny Chappell distributing and kicking well to put the Hipperholme boys in good position deep inside Malton territory.

From a line-out on the Malton 22, Brods took the ball cleanly and drove at pace towards the Malton line.

The pack scattered the defenders and Rob Jennings finished off the move with a final push to cross the line.

Brods now started to dominate the forward exchanges, both at line-out and in the scrum, and the pressure in Malton territory was rewarded with a penalty, which Phil Town converted to edge his side 8-5 ahead.

Brods’ stranglehold on the game was played out close to the Malton line and when Malton pounced on a loose ball to hack downfield, the visiting defence scrambled back to save what could have been a matchwinning score.

Fourth-placed Brods are not in action this weekend but they return to their league campaign with a home clash against Driffield on Saturday, March 5.

Old Rishworthian were narrowly beaten 16-13 by Bridlington in a snowy Yorkshire One encounter.

Joe Billing returned at fullback with Corey White, replacing Andrew Esmond in the centre, Harry Whitfield was back at loose head prop, with Jack Smart moving to tight head, and Greg Withers returned to the back row.

Early pressure came from the visitors and Josh Kelly kicked a penalty with three minutes gone, but Brid levelled midway through the half thanks to Simon Wragg’s penalty.

The two kickers traded penalties before Wragg converted a third to make it 9-6 at halftime.

Ethan Pollard forced Bridlington into a defensive error and from the scrum, Whitfield dived over for a try, converted by Kelly.

The hosts responded with a self-converted try from Wragg and Rishies missed a late penalty as the home side held on for victory.