MALTON & Norton head into the second half of the North One East season facing a dogfight to escape the dropzone following their latest defeat, a 28-15 home loss to Morpeth.

Having looked on course for consolidation after excellent wins earlier in the season, M&N hit the midway point in the third relegation place, six points from safety, after a fourth straight loss.

Morpeth were no great shakes on Saturday but ground out a deserved victory on the back of a sound no-frills game.

Malton looked the sprightlier of the two sides initially but when Morpeth got into home territory, after five minutes, they made it pay with a penalty goal, before striking again from the restart.

They spread the ball wide right and, as two Malton defenders went high in an attempt to stop the rangy winger, he easily brushed them aside before chipping and chasing to get the touchdown in the corner.

Gradually Malton came into the game and produced something like the rugby they can play.

Running from defence they created a two-man overlap with a wide-open field in front of them. However, instead of using the overlap, the ball carrier cut inside towards the Morpeth defence who easily smothered the attack.

They atoned for that error midway through the half. Again running the ball from defence, wing Tom Clark broke free and made ground before handing on to full-back Mbembe Payi. In full flight he is unstoppable and he raced away to score in the corner, also converting from the touchline.

Ten minutes later, Morpeth booted another penalty but, as the half grew to an end, Malton took the lead.

A lineout 20 metres out was not secured but the loose ball was seized upon by a Malton player and fed to Payi, who somehow weaved and sidestepped through the mass of players to put make it 12-11 at the break.

Coach Chris Creber's half-time team talk seemed to have fallen on deaf ears when, on the resumption, the same rangy winger who had embarrassed Malton earlier did so again.

Picking up possession in centre field, he ran through several tackles, all above waist high, to break clear and score under the posts. The conversion gave his side the lead again - and one they were not to lose.

A high tackle on Malton fly-half Paul Angus produced a penalty which Payi converted to give the hosts new life, but they were soon penalised for a third time for failing to clear the tackle area and Morpeth increased the deficit.

In injury time, Malton again pressed the self-destruct button. Poor communication at a lineout five metres from their own line gifted Morpeth the ball and a strong run brought a simple try, the conversion a formality.