MALTON & Norton RUFC had to settle for two bonus points as their losing run stretched to seven games with a 33-27 reverse at lowly Percy Park.

The manner of defeat to West Leeds last week had brought hope the sorry sequence would end, but a late score gave the South Shields side the spoils.

It left M&N fifth bottom of North One East, four points above the drop zone.

Malt began brightly and fly-half Luke Raduva almost opened the scoring after pouncing on a loose ball on half-way. The chasing pack, though, caught him and his pass to Rob Armitage was misplaced.

Instead, the hosts set up an attack, and took the lead. From a lineout in the Malton 22, they created a rolling maul and there was little Malton could do to stop it crossing the whitewash. The conversion from the touchline was successful.

Malton struggled at times to cope with the hosts' speed and strength but kept them at bay until midway through the half when Park opened out from deep in their own half to get a second try.

Malton were fighting hard, though, and, on the half-hour, from a maul on half-way, second-row Ali Fothergill made a trademark run before handing onto full-back Zweli Sodladla. He fed Vus Dyantjies, who crossed for Paul Angus to convert.

However, Park hit back immediately after a penalty to the corner, with a rolling maul again unstoppable. The touch judges indicated the conversion missed but the referee overruled them, the points making it 19-7 at half-time.

Having lost centre Tom Foan to injury, Malton had to rearrange their back line, with Raduva moving to scrum-half, Angus to full-back and Sodladla to centre, with James Bulmer coming on at fly-half.

Five minutes in, Malton turned over possession at a breakdown and Angus' good break was carried on by Armitage, who passed to Sodladla. His quick hands freed up Dyantjies to get his second try, Angus' extras cutting the deficit to 19-14.

Park, though, again struck, the conversion making it 26-14.

Malton were still playing with determination and an Angus penalty for obstruction reduced the arrears.

Then, on the hour, Raduva intercepted again and this time backed his speed, racing away from his own 22 to score.

Now trailing only 26-22, Malton had the scent of victory and, with 10 minutes left, they took a one-point lead.

Another turnover on half-way was transferred to the backs, and Angus opened the defence and sent Sodladla home.

Malt should have closed out the game but failed to do so and Park ultimately took advantage.

The hosts had the chance to go back ahead but bizarrely ran a penalty.

Nevertheless, they won the game in stoppage time. A series of pick and drives applied pressure, and eventually the score came wide out, the conversion sealing victory.

Meanwhile, relegation-threatened Pocklington saw their home game with Kirkby Lonsdale in North Premier postponed because of the wintry weather.