MALTON & Norton again contributed to their own downfall in an otherwise exciting, evenly-matched game as they fell 27-19 at Percy Park.

The North Shields outfit sealed their victory at the death, leaving Malton ruing little mistakes which they may have got away with last year in Yorkshire One but are proving costly in North One East.

It was their second successive narrow defeat and dropped them to 12th in the table, with Percy Park rising to eighth.

The early signs were promising from Malton. They absorbed initial pressure before coming to life with some good handling and incisive running.

Percy Park were forced to concede a penalty at a ruck and Mbembe Payi fired home the 40-metre kick.

At this stage Malton were in control, having gained the upper hand in the forwards and using the speed of the backs to cause fear in the home ranks.

On the quarter-hour, the hosts conceded another penalty in almost the identical place to the first, and Payi again delivered for a 6-0 lead.

But Percy Park now showed their talents.

When Malton were penalised at a maul, the hosts halved the deficit and minutes later capitalised when Malt attempted a delicate chip over the defence. The ball landed in the hands of the home left wing who, with nobody at home in the Malton defence, sprinted clear to score his side's first try, the conversion a formality.

This was a prime example of a little error being punished at this level.

Malton fought back and got their reward with another Payi penalty to close the gap to one point. The final move of the half was a magnificent affair.

Percy Park missed their target at a lineout and Malton's Tom Lowry pounced and quickly transferred the ball to the backs.

Great handling and incisive running from Payi, Blake Spencer and Luke Reduva had the home defence in tatters and the final pass saw centre Vus Dyantjies sprint home from 22 metres

Scrum-half Paul Angus converted and Malton led 16-10.

The high tempo showed no sign of abating early in the second half and Malton almost added to their lead with another Payi penalty, the ball sailing just wide.

Percy Park clawed their way back into it, although a period of sustained pressure on the Malton line almost produced a score at the other end as Malt number eight Ali Coe intercepted and sprinted 50 metres upfield before being stopped.

Once more the hosts put Malton under pressure and, after being held up over the line, set up a maul from the resultant scrum.

When the momentum was stopped they released the backs and a dummy and shimmy opened the space for the try.

The conversion put Park one point ahead and they renewed their assault on the Malton line from the restart.

The defence was sound initially but the onslaught finally paid off with a try in the corner.

Malton now needed two scores to take the spoils.

Hopes were raised with five minutes left when Angus booted a penalty to make it 24-19.

Malt then went on the all-out attack but when Percy Park were awarded a penalty at a ruck some ill-advised words were punished when the referee moved the award 10 yards nearer the posts. The kick sailed through the posts to seal the result.