DERBY day honours went to Malton & Norton RUFC after they edged a close Yorkshire One encounter at York 16-13.

The Clifton Parkers had squeaked through in the first encounter at The Gannock, back in September, by a single point and it was similarly tight in the Minster city - the winning score coming from the boot of Zweli Sodladla in injury time.

Malton established command of the forward exchanges from the start, especially in the set pieces, and caused problems for the lightweight York pack.

But, from the scraps of possession they did get, York were able to pose a threat in the three-quarters.

After an initial 20 minutes of sparring, Malton had a series of scrums close to the York line and, on each occasion, nudged the home eight backwards.

At the fourth effort, Malton were moving rapidly towards the York line, with Josh Heggie controlling the ball well at the rear, when York were judged to have collapsed the moving mass illegally.

The referee signalled a penalty try for Malton. Sodladla added the conversion and Malton had the advantage before injury hit - influential prop Ben Boothman forced to leave the field with slight concussion and replaced by the evergreen Ed Gwilliam.

York mounted a number of attacks in the Malton half but found the visiting defence in mean mood against their dangerous backs.

The Shipton Road side got on the scoreboard, though, on the half hour when Malton were penalised in their own 22 metre area for hanging onto the ball after a tackle and the gap was reduced to 7-3.

Malton restored their seven point lead as the first half entered injury time. A York high tackle produced a penalty for Sodladla to make it 10-3.

But the half dragged on.

In the tenth minute of injury time, York mounted a successful raid on the Malton line.

A line-out ten metres out was initially driven forward and then released to the backs. A cut back against the flow caught Malton flat-footed and the try was scored wide out. A good kick from the touchline levelled the scores 10-10 at the break.

The second half was a battle of defence as York tried to use the pace in their backs and Malton the strength of the pack to gain control.

York were the first to prosper when Malton were again penalised for holding on after a tackle on half-way.

A superb kick sent the ball high and accurately between the posts to give the hosts a three point lead after 15 minutes.

A similar award to Malton ten minutes later brought Malton level when Sodladla converted the penalty.

Players of both sides were feeling the effects of the physical battle and the physios of each team were kept fully occupied to ensure all the players remained on the field.

As in the first half, the game entered a long period of injury time at the end.

With Malton pressing for the final and winning score, an attempted Ian Cooke dropped goal appeared to have hit the mark only to be blown wide at the last moment.

There was still more drama to come and it was Malton who profited.

From the resultant 22 metre drop out, a York player was penalised for being in front of the kicker.

At the scrum Malton applied one last push and York buckled under the pressure. The referee awarded Malton the penalty and Sodladla kept his nerve to boot the ball calmly between the posts to win the game.