MALTON & NORTON RUFC's pack held all the aces as they battered Bradford Salem into submission in a 33-13 Yorkshire One win at The Gannock.

They drove their opponents off the ball from the very first scrum and the power paid off after four minutes when a scrum five metres out was driven forward and Salem's attempt to collapse the set piece produced a penalty try.

Zweli Sodladla converted and more was expected from the home side.

But Salem had other ideas and cut the deficit five minutes later when Malton were penalised for being on the wrong side of a ruck.

Emboldened, a good passage of play then got them to Malton's line where they were held up and awarded a five metre scrum. A superb drive from the Malton eight helped them clear the danger.

Both sides were temporarily reduced in numbers when a prop forward from each side was shown a yellow card for illegal scrummaging.

Malton were awarded the penalty, though, and Sodladla kicked to the corner. After a good catch and drive, there was nothing the visitors could do to stop skipper Sam Triffitt getting the touchdown.

Sodladla, despite the windy conditions, added the extras.

They scored again four minutes later. Strong counter rucking from Malton turned over possession ten metres inside their own half and they quickly spread the ball across the pitch to right-wing Jack Cranage, who showed great determination and strength to race away from the defence and score a very satisfying try.

Deep into first half stoppage time, Bradford Salem showed they were not finished.

From a scrum in front of the Malton posts, they managed to gain possession and an initial break by from the base got their three-quarters moving. They touched down in the corner with their extra man and reduced the deficit to 19-8 at the break.

Malton secured the kick-off on the restart and showed good vision when scrum-half Paul Angus spotted a gap and raced away into the visitors' 22 metre area.

A series of rucks and mauls were set up by Malton and driven to the line with prop Ben Boothman crossing.

Now 26-8 ahead after the conversion, Malton looked to be home and dry.

Salem kept probing and Malton were again reduced in numbers for ten minutes when they were penalised for interference with the ball at a ruck. They also had to do some rearranging when Cranage suffered an injury and had to be replaced.

With substitute Callum Stark already filling the other wing place for the earlier injured Ben Woodhouse, skipper Triffitt had to move from the back row to centre. From a spell of broken play in the Malton 22 metre area, Salem finally got their reward with a second try in the corner.

Malton replied with ten minutes remaining when some great handling amongst the forwards opened a gap for Boothman to sprint through and score under the posts. The conversion was successful and Malton ran out 33 -13 winners.

A dominant performance gave Pocklington a 53-7 derby win over local rivals Beverley in North One East.

Pocklington were on top from the start and were twice judged to have lost the ball over the Beverley line in the first five minutes. But they did not have to wait long for the opening score as the home pack shunted a close range scrummage for scrum half Ben Rees to touchdown.

Two more tries quickly followed as good back play sent wing Charlie Wilson diving over in the corner, then the same player kicked infield for centre James Flint to follow up and score.

Pocklington had the bonus point wrapped up early with a fourth try at the end of the first quarter, number eight Joe Brown pouncing on a loose ball and fly-half Matt Procter converting.

Pocklington were awarded a penalty try with the last play of the first half from another powerful scrum shove, Procter converting for a 29-0 interval lead, but Beverley were the first to show in the second period.

Flanker Alex McPeake led a brief revival and, when Pocklington tried to run out of defence, a home pass was intercepted by Beverley wing Luke Hazell who sprinted over for Phil Duboulay to convert.

Any thought of a Beverley comeback were soon cut short by Pocklington’s strong tackling, and centre Pete Massie again broke clear to send Wilson flying in for his second try.

Billy Hardy then ran and kicked down the opposite flank and, when the ball popped up Procter was on hand to score, Rees took over the kicking duties to land the conversion.

Pocklington pack power completed the rout as a 20 yard catch and drive was finished by flanker Jack Holbrough, Rees again converting, before back row Matt Davies twisted over from close range in the last minute.