IT was a case of After the Lord Mayor’s Show as Malton & Norton followed up their defeat of North One East leaders Alnwick by losing 27-21 at Dinnington.

A Luke Raduva brace of tries, along with Jon Vasconcelos’ touchdown and three Zweli Sodladla conversions, proved insufficient during a somewhat toothless show against a home team who needed a win to ensure their own survival.

As early as the second minute, Malton found themselves behind when they were penalised for not releasing after a tackle and, while the conversion failed, home tails were up.

Showing much more appetite for the game, Dinnington kept up the pressure and, on seven minutes, after winning a scrum in centre field, they spread the ball wide to the right winger, who ran through a couple of would-be tacklers to get a second unconverted try.

That provoked a response and, for the next 15 minutes, the visitors held sway and spent most of the time in the home half.

However, on the only occasion they crossed the whitewash, they were unable to ground the ball and the chance was lost and an obstruction offence went on to give Dinnington the chance to add another three points to the scoreboard.

In spells, Malton were producing the rugby they are capable of and, from a series of good drives, eventually got their reward when hooker Vasconcelos was credited with a try and a good kick from the touchline by Sodladla added the extras.

Good defensive work by Malton then saw them turn over possession and kick to safety.

However, the kicker was stood behind the dead-ball line and the home side had a five-metre scrum instead of Malton having a line-out near halfway.

The heavy home pack subsequently drove hard and there was little Malton could do to stop the push-over try, with the lead extended to 20-7 following a successful kick.

From the restart, Malton regained possession and, after driving towards the home line, the ball was finally released to the backs, with fly-half Raduva taking on the home defence and dummying his way over for the Gannock team’s first try.

Sodladla converted and Malton went into the break trailing 20-14.

But the away team suffered another setback at the beginning of the second period when a mix-up between two players resulted in Dinnington regaining possession and making rapid progress to the Malton line.

From the fourth pick-and-drive, the hosts went on to cross for their fourth and bonus-point try.

Dinnington’s defence then held firm until ten minutes from time when Malton quickened the pace of the game and an initial break from centre Nick Rangiuira led to Raduva claiming his second score.

Sodladlas’ kick reduced the deficit further, but Malton had to settle for a losing bonus point and now entertain already-relegated Northern in their final home game of the season.