A young and inexperienced Malton and Norton side with four or five injured big guns missing put up a more than competent display against hosts Sheffield, but bowed out of the Intermediate Cup 33-20.

Early on Malton had almost total territorial advantage, and from ruck ball close to the Sheffield line created a gap for full-back Dallas Simpson to cross the home line. Ian Cooke added the extras.

Sheffield retaliated quickly when Malton were caught offside and full back Matt Burgess, playing his 100th game for Sheffield, sent the ball between the posts.

Malton held the advantage which was increased further when Cooke added a penalty, but just as danger looked to have been cleared a Malton clearance was charged down and home wing Ryan Amos pounced to score.

Burgess added a further penalty to give his side the half-time lead.

From the restart Sheffield again took control when Burgess burst through to score between the posts. As in the first half, the reply was soon to come as Cooke added another penalty for Malton.

Burgess then changed the face of the game with a snap drop goal which took some of the steam out of the young Malton outfit. Further Sheffield scores came through the strength of the pack from an unstoppable drive rounded off by skipper Dan Porter and a push over converted by Burgess.

Malton were not finished and mounted a late challenge and hooker Steve Piercy gained due reward when he picked up from a ruck and dived over for Cooke to convert.

The last ten minutes had the crowd on the edge of their seats as Malton mounted wave after wave of attack but were unable to find a way through and so Sheffield enter the draw for the next round.

Updated: 11:01 Monday, October 18, 2004