MALTON & Norton battled to a 29-21 victory in a cracker against Percy Park to bolster their chances of beating the drop in North One East.

Malton, going into the game on place above the relegation zone, were without skipper Sam Triffitt, sidelined by a head injury sustained in training.

But they bagged a much-needed five-point win, holding off the mid-table visitors after being run close for the entire match, to climb one place in the table, with Durham City the latest side to slip to third-bottom.

Spokesman Bill Laidler said: "Although we still committed too many unforced errors there was a fighting spirit on view which, if it can be maintained, will see us in good stead for the games to come."

There is a break in the league programme on Saturday before Malton travel to the doomed Wheatley Hills seeking another five-point win.

Triffit's replacement was George Harrison - who has recently returned from down under, where he received glowing reports from former Australia coach Bob Dwyer for his all-action game - and he was part of an "immense" back row alongside Ali Coe and Jamie Rounthwaite.

Full-back Xolela Payi, Vus Dyantjies and Nick Rangiuira also put in some splendid work during a hard afternoon.

Malton fell behind to a second-minute penalty but they repelled further pressure to take the lead.

They missed a penalty but from the 22-metre dropout, good ball retention and slick offloading got the pack moving and hooker James Thornton broke free from 22 metres out to race over.

The game was being played at a breakneck speed, Percy Park next to score with another penalty for a 6-5 lead on the quarter-hour.

Then Malton wing Rob Armitage was sin-binned for retaliation but Malton dug deep and even managed to take the lead with an exquisite try while a man down.

Forceful surges by substitute second-row Ali Fothergill and Harrison made deep inroads before the ball was spun wide, eventually reaching the mercurial Payi, who, from 40 metres, set off on a trademark weaving run through the entire defence.

Malton soaked up everything the was thrown at them to hold onto that 10-6 lead until the break and they came out firing in the second half.

More good ground was gained Fothergill and his pack cohorts before Harrison picked up from a ruck and ran in from 30 metres, Payi converting.

Percy Park, though, fought back with a new impetus, and poor tackling in midfield afforded them chance to bag their first try, cutting the gap to 17-11.

Five minutes later, another powerful break was well finished off in the corner to make it 17-16.

But Malton again retaliated and, having made good ground into the visitors' 22, a strong drive led by Harrison took them close. As the ball popped out, Payi picked up and dotted down for his second try.

The visitors still had some fight left and quickly replied, some weak tackling gifting them a try in the corner to cut Malt's lead to 22-21.

The conversion, much to the Malton's delight, was missed.

With hearts still beating quickly as the clock ticked down, another piece of Malton magic produced the decisive score.

A lineout five metres from the visitors' line was won by Coe. Instead of the expected catch and drive, Malton spun the ball wide and fine handling in the backs had the defence at sixes and sevens before Coe reappeared to take the final pass and touch down in the corner.

A magnificent kick from substitute scrum-half Paul Angus sealed the win.