Malton and Norton Rugby Union Club have lodged a protest with league officials after agonisingly missing out on promotion from Yorkshire Three.

Skipton secured the second promotion spot behind champions York RI with an 86-0 defeat of Sheffield Oaks on Saturday.

It put them level on points with Malton but gave them a superior points difference of seven points.

However, Malton claim Sheffield Oaks' final two games - against York RI last week and Skipton on Saturday - were not rearranged quickly enough after they were originally postponed.

Malton secretary Bill Laidler said: "We have protested on the grounds that the regulations state that rearranged games should be played on the next available Saturday.

"The game against York RI should have been played in November, there have been available days since then.

"They postponed the game against Skipton because they couldn't raise a side - we say that should have been forfeited.

"We had more games than anyone else but they insisted we played our games and we managed to finish our season by May 5."

The margin of Skipton's victory over Oaks was not enough to wrest top spot from York RI, who have been crowned champions. The New Lane side could be strengthened by an influx of players from Nestl Rowntree next season.

Nestl, who can trace their history back to 1894, are holding their annual meeting tonight and may pull out of league rugby.

One of the items on its agenda is to consider the possibility of many of its players moving across the river to team up with RI.

The Nestl Rowntree Club could retain its constitution, bank account and facilities, but withdraw from league rugby.

It will continue to provide playing facilities for those players who wish to continue playing under the club's old banner, but many playing members are known to be interested in exploring the possibility of joining RI.

Updated: 11:23 Monday, May 21, 2001