Malton and Norton kept their hopes of a third successive promotion well and truly alive with an emphatic 34-10 victory over fourth-placed Keighley.

The win keeps Malton in pole position with a four-point advantage over their nearest Yorkshire One challengers.

Facing the stiffening breeze in the first half Malton were pressurised by an eager Keighley outfit but good defence meant that the line was never threatened.

Indeed, Malton looked the more dangerous. Keeping the ball in hand and using their superior skills in the three-quarters caused problems for the visitors.

Jason Simpson made the first telling break before exchanging passes with Liam Cowton on the left wing as they made 70 metres before Simpson chipped ahead for centre Tim Chapman to win the race for the touchdown in the corner.

Keighley's tactics to keep the game tight were rewarded with a penalty, converted by fly-half John Hargreaves, when Malton were penalised for obstruction in front of their own posts and trim Malton's interval lead to just two points.

The hosts, however, lost the services temporarily of Simpson with a blood injury and Liam Vaughan who was sin-binned for dissent.

The injury to Simpson meant that Ryan Lonsdale was able to make a reappearance after four weeks out with injury.

Ian Cooke extended Malton's lead with a penalty five minutes into the second half.

With the wind at their backs, Malton were now showing why they at the top of the table - their fitness and skill levels well above anything the visitors could muster.

After ten minutes James McKay stole a Keighley line out close to the visitors line and, from the ensuing drive, the ball was spread to Lonsdale to power over for his side's second try. Cooke converted.

Worse was to follow for Keighley as Malton turned the screw.

Another badly-executed Keighley line out was taken by McKay who had the simple task of putting the ball down unchallenged. Cooke again converted.

The home forwards were making large inroads into the heart of the Keighley defence led by Carl Muscroft and Vaughan and the back row of David Cooke, Andy Mitchell and McKay were swarming all over the opposition.

A strong McKay break broke the back of the defence before he handed on to the restored Simpson who took the ball at pace and shimmied through for a well-deserved score.

A possible rout now seemed likely as architect-in-chief Chris Creber conducted some defence baffling moves in the three-quarters.

Awarded a penalty ten metres from the visitors' line Malton spurned the chance of three points and elected to run the ball wide to the opposite wing for Ian Cooke to carve his way over for a try which he converted himself to round off the hosts' scoring.

Keighley stuck to the task and mounted a spirited reply in the closing minutes.

Having gained the opportunity to clear their lines Malton then had a penalty award reversed for a spat of ill-discipline.

Keighley then re-enacted Malton's last try for flanker Lee Sugden to score at the posts. Scrum half Scott Moss converted, but it was too little too late.

Yet again the team work of the Malton side was exemplary. Simpson was magnificent throughout, despite his injury, and fully deserved his man-of-the-match award.

Updated: 10:27 Monday, February 09, 2004