MALTON & NORTON RUFC kept their Yorkshire One winning streak going with a dogged 15-7 victory over Old Brodleians at The Gannock.

The visitors made head coach Chris Creber's men fight from start to finish as heavy underfoot conditions prevented any free flowing rugby from either side.

It ensured a forward battle would be the recipe for the day and Malton had the upper hand in that department.

From the first whistle Malton took the game to Old Brodleians through some good forward drives but, although they made good ground, the visitors' defence was solid and refused to yield until the 18th minute.

A good line-out take, ten metres from the Old Brods line, was well controlled in the pack as they inched forward.

Malton's pack is hard to stop when it gets moving and hooker James Thornton was credited with the touchdown in the corner.

A period of scrappy play ensued with both sides making unforced errors, mainly in centre field, as they tried to open the game out.

Malton lost key man Ian Cooke with a leg injury and, with five minutes left in the first half, Old Brods managed to get the ball moving across their three-quarter line.

The overlap was created and the right wing showed good pace to cross in the corner. A good conversion from the touchline gave Old Brodleians the lead at half-time.

The second period almost mirrored the first with the packs dominating play and just the rare piece of running rugby from the backs. On the quarter-hour, though, Malton made the breakthrough again and it came once more from a line-out.

Another spell of pressure, close to the visitors' line, produced another good take and, this time, it was flanker Jamie Rounthwaite who benefitted from the controlled driving of his colleagues as he crossed for the try.

Zweli Sodladla converted well from wide out and some of the pressure was released.

Ten minutes later, the same player extended the lead when Old Brods were penalised for holding onto the tackled player.

Both defences were proving difficult to break and Old Brods threw everything they had at Malton in an attempt to get back on track. But the home side's wall stayed intact.

The final ten minutes saw Malton almost permanently camped in the Old Brods 22 metre area but the visitors defended just as stoutly as Malton ran out winners.