MALTON & Norton ended their seven-match losing run thanks to a shock 19-14 victory over high-flying Morpeth at The Gannock.

The Ryedale side were back up to near full strength and each player involved gave a fine display despite the growing pressure of a relegation scrap.

The success could prove crucial, too, with teams below them in North One East also picking up wins, leaving Malt still only four points above the drop zone.

Morpeth, beaten only three times previously this term, remain only two points behind leaders Driffield who themselves were turned over by basement boys Dinnington.

M&N spokesman Bill Laidler said: "It was a very good 18-man performance which produced the necessary win as those below us in the league are also picking up points.

"There were a number of standout performances, notably Sam Triffitt, Liam Vaughan and Charlie Corner but many others were not too far behind. The defensive qualities of Tom Foan, Nick Rangiuira and Zweli Sodladla in the backs were also of the highest order."

It was a dull afternoon but a far from dull display.

Morpeth almost scored from the kick off when they received the ball and set their speedy right wing away along the touchline, a last-ditch tackle preventing him from going the distance.

Instead Malton applied the heat and opened the scoring on 10 minutes, after the ball went loose from a Morpeth scrum.

It was quickly seized upon by Malton fly-half Luke Raduva, who ran in from 20 metres, Paul Angus converting.

The visitors came back strongly through their pack but the danger was cleared when a front-row was sin-binned for use of his feet at a ruck.

Malton were looking the more threatening but Morpeth were holding the upper hand in the set-pieces meaning that, although the hosts were getting their own ball, it was slow and on the retreat.

However, the defence was watertight with Triffitt, Corner and Tom Lowry forming an effective back row.

There was little they could do to stop the visitors from equalising, though. Malton, at a defensive scrum, were pushed off the ball and a converted pick-up-and-touch-down try ensued.

The next 10 minutes leading up to half-time showed Malton at their best.

Good ball retention and safe handling meant the visitors were forced onto the defensive.

That defence was tight but, deep into injury time, it cracked when Malton won a lineout on the 22 and quick ball to the backs ended up with centre Rangiuira, who powered through.

Angus converted for a deserved 14-7 lead.

With tails up, Malton began the second half as they had ended the first, and Morpeth were again temporarily reduced in numbers after 10 minutes for not rolling away from a tackle. The hosts soon took advantage.

At a Morpeth scrum on halfway, the ball again went loose and young second-row Will Hughes snapped it up and raced home despite would-be tacklers.

Despite not having worthwhile possession, Morpeth were still a threat, mainly through the forwards, but Malton quashed any danger.

Indeed, M&N should have extended their lead with a penalty 20 metres out, but they spurned the three points and the quick tap came to nothing.

However, midway through the half the visitors did hit back with a catch-and-drive try from a penalty to the corner with their first piece of possession of the half. The conversion cut the deficit to 19-14.

Nerves grew among the Malton following as the visitors tried to force the issue. But again the defence was good and some of the tackling was as ferocious as it ever has been.