Malton and Norton RUFC suffered relegation misery on Saturday - leaving neighbours York stuck in the North East.

Malton's 37-26 home defeat against Huddersfield saw them drop out of North East Two into Yorkshire One, a result that blocked York's return to that league next season.

Although York finished their campaign with a solid win 37-17 at Ryton, they had already missed out on promotion and were looking forward to a return to the more familiar territory of Yorkshire One, but Malton's defeat put paid to that.

Huddersfield, chasing a promotion play-off spot, opened the scoring at the Gannock through winger Steve Lynch, with fly-half James Grayshon converting from the touchline.

Ian Cooke reduced the arrears with a penalty but Malton's weakness in midfield defence was exploited by Neil Summers, who cut through for Huddersfield's second score.

Malton were given a lift when Grayshon was red-carded for retaliation after a dangerous tackle but his side upped their effort and Summers scored again, skipper Mark Sowerby's conversion giving the visitors a 22-8 lead at the interval.

Jason Simpson's brilliant solo try got Malton back in the game but a Sowerby penalty kept them at arm's length.

Malton hit back again, with Simpson grabbing his second try. Cooke later kicked a penalty and a Malton revival looked to be on the cards but indecisive defence allowed flanker Tom Rourke to cross. Malton kept plugging away and prop Carl Muscroft went over in the corner but it was too little too late.

York's game at Ryton was a typical end of season affair with nothing to play for but pride.

The visitors were shocked inside 45 seconds when Paul McCarten, Ryton's tall speedy right winger, scored a try.

A close range try from Ian Davies and a conversion and a penalty from Copeland looked to be the beginning of an easy win for York but the referee disliked York's approach to the breakdown, resulting in Hal Convery kicking three penalties to give Ryton a 14-13 lead.

A Copeland penalty hit the right hand post but top try scorer Rob Kama followed up to score an easy try. Copeland's conversion attempt hit the other post.

The men from Clifton Park, fired up by some controversial refereeing decisions, raised their game in the second half and ultimately ran out comfortable winners with further tries by Graham Smith, Rob Kama and hooker John Sharpe, who strolled over having sent the whole Ryton team the wrong way with a dummy to Kama.

Updated: 10:03 Monday, April 25, 2005