PROMOTION-CHASING Malton & Norton RUFC picked up where they left off in 2014 as they started the new year with a 36-6 victory over Heath.
The Ryedale side played some sparkling rugby at the Gannock to notch their 11th successive league win and stay on the trail of Yorkshire One leaders Doncaster Phoenix.
Malt started superbly, claiming the opening try with only two minutes on the clock. A maul was formed 15 metres from the visitors’ line and good forward pressure and ball retention saw prop Rob Featherstone touch down.
Home centre Vusumzi Dyantjies was yellow-carded for some robust play at a ruck, but Malt extended their lead when Heath were offside at a ruck, scrum-half Zwelakhe Sodladla kicking the penalty.
Four minutes later, Heath replied when Malton held onto the ball too long after a tackle and fly-half Esra Hinchliffe kicked the three points.
On the 25 minute mark, the hosts showed their quality. A quick tap penalty, when Heath were penalised for illegally wheeling a set scrum, was quickly moved into the visitors’ 22-metre area and some good drives allowed second row Jamie Rounthwaite to touch down.
Sodladla converted for a 15-3 lead.
FULL TILT: Malton & Norton full-back Sizwe Zondo surges forward in his side’s 36-6 victory over Heath in Yorkshire One
From the restart, a high kick out of defence by Sodladla was followed up well and the ball squirted out of the side of the ruck for flanker George Harrison to pounce and streak half the length of the pitch to score under the posts.
Sodladla converted.
Heath were reduced to 14 men when Hinchliffe was sin-binned for slowing down the release of the ball after a tackle, but he returned to add a penalty in the first minute of the second half.
Back came Malton, with some brilliant handling culminating in a final forward drive for Featherstone to add his second try, converted by Sodladla.
Malt scored the try of the game on the hour after winning a penalty 30 metres out and near to touch. Sodladla took the kick quickly and several would-be tacklers were left in his wake as he sliced through the defence to score under the posts and convert his own try.
Heath came back strongly in the final 20 minutes, but they were unable to penetrate the Malton defensive wall which was rock solid throughout.
York were edged out 27-26 at Pontefract in Yorkshire One.
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