Malton and Norton RUFC put in a heroic display to beat Horden 33-17 but it was not enough to stop The Gannock visitors becoming champions.

Malton had to win by 36 clear points to finish top of the table but failing that had to win and rely on Consett defeating Northern to gain a play-off place.

In the end the latter scenario prevailed, Horden are champions and Malton & Norton will now host Yorkshire One runners-up Old Crossleyans on Saturday in a battle for the remaining promotion place.

After just two minutes Malton temporarily lost skipper Chris Creber with a broken nose. Ian Cooke slotted into the fly-half role and within a minute set up the first try when he chipped over the Horden defence and coolly gathered his own kick before transferring the ball to second row Karl Shaw who romped over.

Cooke added the conversion but within five minutes a break along the right touchline saw full-back Paul Bruce cross for Horden and Andy Turner added the extras to level the scores.

Malton were next to strike when Duncan Foster stole a Horden lineout and play quickly switched to the other side of the field where centre Ryan Lonsdale broke the defensive line before sending in David Webster for a try converted by Cooke.

Horden reduced the arrears with a Turner penalty but Malton soon got motoring again with Lonsdale cruising over beneath the posts for Cooke to convert.

Two minutes later when a planned move involving two scissors movements and a miss pass saw winger Tom Pateman score. Again Cooke converted and Malton felt they had a chance of winning by the required margin.

But Horden hit back and after being shoved off their own ball at a scrummage Malton conceded possession and a well-organised maul saw No 8 Craig Gilmore crash over, Turner adding the extras.

Cooke was not to be outdone as a run from defence set up the opportunity for subs Paul Dobson and Tom Anderson to send in Creber to put the cap on a superb game.

Updated: 10:50 Monday, April 24, 2006