Sweet valentine's victory!

Malton did the honours of kicking off and both teams, playing open rugby, looked evenly matched during the early encounters. York started to gain an upper hand with strong forward drives that took play into Malton's 22. From such a position, York took a quick tap penalty and instigated a forward drive which culminated in their No.8 Leonard powering his way over for an opening try. (5-0).
York tried to run the ball at every opportunity but Malton defended well and were prepared to counter attack. It was York's driving forwards that were making significant penetration and Malton struggled to arrest the flow. A driving maul saw York cross the Malton line but was unable to ground the ball. The ensuing scrum saw York win the ball and drive Malton backwards. With forward momentum Leonard picked up and scored his and York's second try. (10-0).
York attacked again from the Malton restart and but for a knock-on just short of Malton's line a certain try would have been scored. Malton won the scrum and a subsequent penalty helped them clear their 22. York made an excellent break from loose play as Gao beat three defenders before off loading to flanker Simpson for the easiest of touchdowns. (15-0).
York maintained forward pressure with strong, powerful drives and held territorial advantage with Malton contained in their own half of the field. Desperate defense by Malton inhibited any further score before halftime.
HALF TIME : YORK 15 MALTON & NORTON 0.
Malton backs had defended well in the first half as they had stifled York's attempts to play a more expansive game. With Malton having to commit their loose forwards to suppress York's forward power, more opportunities started to appear for the backs. The second half saw York back line make more penetrative runs. It was from such a move that Malton made a try saving tackle, forcing York into touch at the same time. York disrupted the Malton lineout and a driving maul took the ball over Malton's line where second row Cambridge wrenched it clear to touch down. (20-0).
With such forward dominance, quality ball was being deliver to the backs and gaps were opening for them to exploit. Malton failed to find touch with a clearance kick from their own line. York took a good catch and set up a passing movement which saw the ball go from one touch line to other where winger Williams rounded the opposition with pace to score in the corner. (25-0).
York pressure was unrelenting. York made a clean catch of the Malton restart and immediately moved the ball wide. This time York put up a long chasing kick which they followed up well and caught Malton in possession. Malton was penalised for not releasing the ball. York took a quick tap penalty and as the ball was being moved wide, centre Bullough neatly stepped inside his opposite number to score between the posts. Fly half Atkinson added the conversion. (32-0).
York pressure built again from the restart but a knock on gave Malton defense some respite. As Malton tried to run out of defense, York conceded a penalty thus giving Malton more relief. It was, however, short lived as York broke up a Malton attack and a counter attack saw York awarded a penalty. A short tap penalty saw York exploit the blind side but with ball in hand, flanker Whitmore stepped back to the open side and jinked his way over to touch down near the posts. Atkinson added the conversion. (39-0).
York played out the game with open, running rugby built upon a solid forward's platform. A concluding try looked certain in the final seconds of the game but it was denied as their winger over-ran the ball with an open try line begging.
FULL TIME : YORK 39 MALTON & NORTON 0.
York had coordinated well as a team and played some intelligent rugby. The pack had gained an upper hand and built a solid foundation. As Malton forwards became increasingly committed to hold York; greater opportunities arose for the backs which they effectively exploited. It had been a long awaited display of flowing rugby and displayed the style of play of which they are capable. Six different players contributing to the seven-try tally evidenced this.

SCORERS:

Tries:
Leonard (2)
Simpson
Cambridge
Williams
Bullough
Whitmore
Conversions:
Atkinson (2)

Players 'Man of the Match'.
Shared by the entire team for an outstanding team performance.