THERE was a sense of deja vu about Malton & Norton RUFC’s 11-9 victory at Skipton in Yorkshire One.

Skipton’s Sandylands ground was the starting point of Malton’s revival last season and the Ryedale side will be hoping Saturday’s repeat performance can kick-start their faltering campaign.

Malton picked up from where they left off in the previous weekend’s agonising 16-15 derby defeat by Selby and put in a performance of grit and determination to beat the odds and return with a victory.

Malton took the lead in the third minute. Skipton were driven deep into their 22-metre area as Malton applied the pressure and, when the home three- quarters were caught offside at a lineout, Tom Collard converted the penalty.

Skipton retaliated and only sound defence kept them at bay until Malt were able to clear their lines. Both sides missed difficult penalty chances before Malt extended the lead. Again vigorous attacking play took Malt beyond halfway and, when Skipton again conceded a penalty at a ruck, scrum-half Rupert Davenport seized his opportunity brilliantly. Quickly taking the kick, he raced away from the defence to cover the 40 metres to the line without a hand being laid on him. The conversion was missed, but Malt had an eight-point lead. From the restart, the lead should have been extended.

Breaking from defence, winger Henry Newitt sped along the touchline before feeding second-row Dan Coates. With only the full-back to beat he elected to go it alone rather than pass to the unmarked Ian Cooke and was brought to ground. A couple of minutes later, the visitors did add to the score when Collard again punished another offside offence with his second penalty to give Malton an 11-0 half-time lead.

In the second half, the Malton defence was of the highest order. Penalties were conceded far too frequently and, in a ten-minute period, Skipton reduced the deficit to two points with three kicks. Skipton pressed for the winning score, but Malton were given a life-saving penalty to clear their lines. All 17 players who took to the field deserve great credit, but the standout performers were flanker Andy Mitchell, who was at his rampaging best, Elliot Richardson, who tackled like a demon in the centres, and wings Newitt and Nick Barstow, who both performed superbly. The win puts Malton level on four points with Selby, who were edged out 29-28 by second-placed Sheffield at Sandhill Lane.

The North Yorkshire duo are now four points clear of Yarnbury, who have been docked points.

Meanwhile, injury-hit York suffered a third consecutive defeat as they went down 14-3 at home to Keighley.

The West Yorkshire side’s victory moved them above York into fifth place, with the Clifton Parkers’ only points coming from the boot of Ben Johnson.

York went into the game with a patched up side and, although they produced a committed performance, they were unable to compete.

Forward Andy Kay said: “It’s not easy when you have to play without so many first choice players.”