MALTON & NORTON RUFC stuttered their way to a bonus point win as they beat Yarnbury 20-15 to stay in second spot in Yorkshire One.

The Gannock-based outfit were stymied at home by a cold and miserable afternoon which, along with slippery underfoot conditions, meant the rugby suffered but Malton's victory still enhanced their position as third placed Bridlington lost to Bradford Salem.

The game began brightly for Malton with a try in the first minute.

A scrum in centre field was successfully won for number eight Ali Coe to pick up and make ground before handing on to scrum-half Paul Angus, who carried on the move to feed Sam Triffitt.

The flanker, playing his first game after knee surgery, surged away from 20 metres to score.

For the next five minutes, Malton kept up the pressure with some magnificent forward drives and ball skills without any reward.

This was to be the pattern of play throughout the afternoon with Malton playing well in spells but interspersed with periods of indecision and lack of concentration.

Yarnbury, who languish near the foot of the table, were able to claw their way back into contention through their very large pack but the Malton defence held firm.

The visitors' pressure looked to have succeeded when Malton hooker James Thornton was banished to the sin bin for ten minutes for finding himself on the wrong side of a maul. Malton rose to the occasion and managed to last out until half-time without conceding and went into the break with a five point lead.

The stiff breeze was against Malton for the second period but still they came out fighting and again struck early.

Good work by Vus Dyantjies in stealing possession led to a series of drives in the Yarnbury 22 metre area.

As the mass moved forward towards the line, the control was excellent and, from five metres out, prop forward Rob Featherstone doubled Malton's lead with a try.

Once again, however, Malton lapsed into a period of lethargy. Losing possession in midfield, Yarnbury spread it to their left wing, who escaped a couple of half-hearted tackles to show a clean pair of heals to the Malton defence and cross for his side's first try.

Malton again upped the tempo. Good handling and lines of running by both forwards and backs took them to the 22 metre area and a further series of well controlled drives gave prop Ben Boothman the try to put clear air between the sides.

Malton then expected to move away but Yarnbury closed the gap with a penalty when Malt were caught offside.

The scores were then levelled at 15-15 with ten minutes left when another period of Yarnbury pressure produced the try.

Malton had work to do and Dyantjies was the architect. Taking the ball into contact, he held the ball up before Triffitt took over and broke to feed fly-half Nick Daley, who scampered over in the corner for the bonus point and winning try.

Malton travel to Heath on Saturday for a second round Yorkshire Shield game.