MALTON & Norton secured their place in North One East for another year with a tremendous display against high-riding Alnwick.

In a cracker at The Gannock, Malton came from 14-0 behind to win 34-21 and go clear from danger with two games left.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler said: “This was probably one of the best games seen at Malton this season and was a tribute to all 18 (M&N) players who took part.

“George Harrison was outstanding but others - Nick Rangiuira, Sam Triffitt, Vus Dyantjies and many more - were not far behind."

The early signs were not good as Alnwick took a stranglehold on proceedings and crossed and converted twice inside 15 minutes, the backs doing the damage.

However, the Malton pack were having the better of things at scrums, and the back row of Tom Lowry, Harrison and Triffitt were covering every inch to pressurise Alnwick at the breakdowns. Soon they got reward.

Good ball from a ruck was released to the backs and centre Rangiuira and wing Tom Foan combined to punch a hole in the defence for Harrison to stroll over, Paul Angus converting.

On the half hour, Alnwick had a man sin-binned for a knee to the head of a Malton player in a ruck – on another day the card could have been red.

Malton, now much better in all departments, then cut the half-time deficit to 14-12.

Harrison's forceful run was carried on by the backs for Foan to open up the defence before sending full-back Callum Stark in at the corner.

The second half produced some high-quality rugby as M&N stepped up the intensity.

A penalty to the corner produced a maul which sucked in the defence before the ball was passed along the line for Foan to dive over in the opposite corner and put Malton ahead.

However, Alnwick struck back on 50 minutes. A forward surge got them to within 20 metres and they touched down from a delicate chip, the conversion putting them 21-17 in front.

But, two minutes later, Malton pressure brought a penalty and Angus slotted over the three points.

Malton’s backs were now looking dangerous whereas Alnwick went off the boil.

Midway through the half, a solid scrummage allowed fly-half Luke Raduva to open the defence with a fine break before handing on to Stark who chipped through for wing Tom Clark to gather and scorch over – giving Malton the lead again and a try bonus point. Angus added the difficult conversion.

On 70 minutes the backs again showed their paces.

Lowry took clean ball from a lineout and slick handling saw ever-improving winger Clark, on the opposite wing, fly home again, running around behind the posts to give Angus a simple conversion and cap victory.