A large Gannock crowd were kept on tenterhooks throughout a gripping derby encounter which saw Malton take the spoils, beating York RI 24-20, to maintain their unbeaten Yorkshire Three league record for the season.

On the evidence of this performance both sides will be in the running for honours at the end of the season.

The opening exchanges saw RI on top as they used their greater experience to worry the Malton pack in both loose and at set pieces.

The home defence was stretched to its limits and after five minutes RI gained the first of their four tries when right-wing Mark Ward brushed aside the would be tacklers to score in the corner.

The heavier visiting pack were still causing big problems for the Malton eight, who were unable to provide any worthwhile ball to the speedy backs.

It came as no great surprise when RI increased their lead with a try from left-wing Mike Madigan.

Both sides were totally committed and Malton were fighting hard to regain lost ground.

Living off scraps of possession the three-quarters always looked dangerous when in possession, with centres Duncan Donaldson and Tim Chapman to the fore.

From one good passage of play left-wing David Webster ran in at the corner to register his side's first score.

RI bounced straight back and scored their third try of the half with an almost carbon copy of their first.

Once again Malton countered through the three-quarters when full-back Ian Mansell burst into the line to outstrip the RI defence to get his side's second try.

The visitors again hit back and this time Madigan struck the blow with his second score of the game to give RI a 20-10 half-time lead.

The score could well have been turned in Malton's favour if two good scoring opportunities had not been spurned when the last pass went astray on each occasion.

Malton began the second half on the offensive and, with the RI forwards starting to wilt, they were beginning to cause the visitors numerous problems.

Skipper Chris Creber and flanker David Cooke were proving constant thorns in the RI side and the pressure was soon turned into points when Creber made one his trademark breaks and shrugged off his pursuers to score under the posts.

Webster converted and Malton were within three points of their rivals, who were now struggling to match their opponents.

Hard as they battled RI could not break down the home defence and Malton clawed their way in front when Creber again broke before passing to right-wing Ian Cooke who used his exceptional pace to score his first try in senior rugby.

Again Webster converted and Malton had to hold on for the last ten minutes to record an impressive victory.

Both sides kept the crowd on their toes for the full eighty minutes and, although it is still early days, it will take something special to stop both sides from improving their status at the end of the season.