MALTON & Norton got out of the relegation zone in North One East with a 45-12 win over Guisborough - and confidence is growing they will stay clear of danger.

Any victory over a side already destined for the drop was guaranteed to lift Chris Creber's men a place up the table given that the two teams immediately above them, Driffield and Dinnington would take points off each other.

But it was the manner of victory which bolstered hope.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: "Malton are still not out of the woods but this victory, and the way it was gained, will have given new belief to the side."

As it turned out, Driffield won their match, leaving Dinnington as the team now occupying the third relegation spot, above the doomed Wheatley Hills and Guisborough. Moreover, defeats for Huddersfield YMCA and Durham City dragged them into the dogfight, too, with only four points now separating third-bottom from seventh-bottom.

The first 10 minutes of Saturday's match were spent in Guisborough territory with Malton's forwards exerting supremacy.

Just as this pressure looked set to pay off, the lively Guisborough full-back intercepted on his own line and set off for a length-of-the-field try.

Malton soon got back on top, and good ball retention led to a series of forward drives along the touchline.

Hooker James Thornton brushed aside attempted tackles to run in from the 22-metre line.

Full-back Xolela Payi converted and Malton had the lead just four minutes after conceding.

Guisborough rallied briefly but Malton kept them at bay and again established home in the visitors' half.

On the half-hour, Payi placed a penalty neatly into the corner, Tom Lowry caught cleanly and a drive was set up which Guisborough had no chance of stopping - replacement Ali Fothergill credited with the touchdown.

Two minutes later, Malton were at it again, with the initial source again a lineout but on this occasion on half-way.

Quick ball to the backs produced some slick handling across the line to wing Rob Armitage, who exchanged passes with the flying Payi, who crossed and converted for a 19-5 interval lead.

The first 15 minutes of the second period saw Malton seal the five-point victory they needed.

Firstly, after seven minutes, a scrum on the visitors' 10-metre line produced good ball for the backs.

Once more slick handling got it to Payi, who returned the favour for Armitage to crossed for the bonus-point try. Payi converted.

Four minutes later, the lead was stretched. Malt's ball retention and handling at close quarters was once more the key. Good mauling took them deep into Guisborough's 22 and the final short pass from Thornton left scrum-half Luke Raduva with the simple task of going over from five metres. Payi again added the extras.

Malton did it again straight from the restart. They won a ruck and Raduva went blind before kicking over the defence into the 22. As two defenders were deciding who should pick the ball up, Malton's Tom Clark nipped in, hacked forward and followed up to touch down in the corner.

Malton temporarily took their foot off the gas and Guisborough profited. The full-back again was the recipient of some good fortune when he joined the line and brushed off weak tackling to cross for his side's second try which he converted himself.

But Malton hit back and, with five minutes left, a strong break by centre Tom Foan took him to almost half-way. Speedy handling and strong running had the defence at sixes and sevens before fly-half Vus Dyantjies stormed over, Payi converting.