Bees lose out to top of the table

There was a general consensus in the Bees camp after the game that the scoreline was not a true reflection of how the game ebbed and flowed. While there is some merit in that view of proceedings, as the Bees kept their hosts from scoring for a 32 minute period in the middle of the game and managed to get on the scoreboard with two fine tries. However, the scoreboard does not lie and when the Bees found themselves in arrears to the tune of 26 points to 5 with 26 minutes played, it looked like this was going to be a very long day at the office for Carl Paterson’s side. However, from that point on the Bees rallied and the home side only managed to score once more in the final 14 minutes of the half. The Bees continued to hold on defensively from the opening 18 minutes of the second half and with the slope on the pitch at the Gannock in their favour, the Bees should have gleaned more than the single score they managed in the second half.

With only light drizzle falling and no wind to speak of, conditions appeared perfect for running Rugby as the Bees kicked off. And so it proved, as playing down the slope, it didn’t take the hosts long to use their pace and good handling skills to rattle in three tries in the opening quarter of an hour. The Bees defence could not hold out waves of attacks from the home side. There was a bright spot for the visitors to confirm it was not all one way traffic in amongst the early scoring as stand off, Ben Hemsley, pinned back his ears inside the Malton 22 and dashed home wide of the uprights for an excellent solo score after 6 minutes. There was plenty of endeavour from the Bees and a number of promising charges from the pack kept the home defence honest in the middle of the field, but too often the initial surge came to nothing or the ball was turned over. The Bees struggled to prevent their hosts from running from deep and seem to have no answer to the fleet footed back three or the pace and power of the home centres.

The sides turned round with the scoreboard showing the home side 33 points to 5 to the good, and despite being able to use the slope, the only score the Bees managed during a long period of parity with Malton came from another fine individual effort as Ryan Wilson collected a pass out towards the left flank and managed to wriggle free of the attentions of a Malton defender before scampering home for a five pointer. Once the home side broke through the Bees defence on 58 minutes, they seemed able to lift their game to power up the hill and collect a further 19 points to secure their spot at the top of the league table.