Malton and Norton maintained their push for promotion with a 21-16 victory over Beverley at the Gannock.

After the Christmas excesses the quality of the rugby was not of standards reached in recent weeks, but it takes a special team to carry on winning even though not at the top of their game.

That is just what Malton did despite some last-minute nail-biting.

Beverley's large pack held the upper hand early in the game and posted their intentions at the first scrummage by shunting Malton off their own ball to gain territorial advantage.

From a scrum deep in the Malton 22 area they again used their power to drive the home pack over the line for No 8 Lee Gallagher to touch down after ten minutes.

Malton were trying to play their natural open game and at times produced exciting passages of play. From one such passage fly-half Chris Creber broke the first line of defence before handing on to the following up James McKay who crossed under the posts for Ian Cooke to convert.

This score seemed to put new life into a strangely subdued Malton and Creber soon added to the tally when he again found a way through Beverley's good defence to score himself. Cooke again added the extras to give Malton a 14-5 lead.

Back came Beverley with an attack along the left wing which culminated in a forward drive which seemed to have succeeded only for the referee to adjudge that the ball had not been grounded.

Malton cleared their lines and play went to the other end of the field where Beverley were penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle. Jon Newsome took the kick quickly and used the full length of his arm to touch down for his sides third try, which Cooke converted to give Malton a 21-5 half-time lead.

For the second period Malton replaced David Cooke, who had received a blow in the eye, with the returning Richard Webster and the expectations were that they would take the game by storm as Beverley tired and run up a large score.

Beverley, however, had other ideas and clawed their way back into contention, frustrating Malton as they did so.

The result of the frustrations was a succession of penalties against Malton. Beverley centre Ian Archibald converted two of them to bring his side closer to Malton's lead.

Play was never very exciting as all Malton's attempts to quicken the pace were thwarted by either injury to Beverley players or the spoiling tactics employed by a number of their players.

The spoiling led to the sin binning of two Beverley players during the half, but Malton were unable to take advantage of their extra numbers.

The ball retention skills of Malton had not been at their best all afternoon and, after they had again conceded possession in midfield, Beverley swept along the left wing for full-back Mike Pickering to touch down.

With minutes remaining Malton were forced to hang on for the final whistle as Beverley tried to snatch the spoils.

Indeed they seemed to have levelled the scores at the death when again they drove over. However, fate was on Malton's side and the score was again disallowed for failing to ground the ball.

The final whistle must have sounded like music to the ears of the large Malton crowd and players alike.

Two valuable points had been gained and the level of performance had been below par. but it is results such as this which can be the difference between success and failure.

Updated: 11:02 Monday, December 30, 2002