MALTON & Norton produced their best defensive performance of the season to comfortable run out as 37-5 winners at home to Pocklington.

Malton conceded single digit points for the first time time in the 2021/22 campaign and maintained their unbeaten record at The Gannock.

Malton’s dismantling of local rivals Pocklington was built on the back of a splendid front five performance and a near perfect display from Shane Poole.

The fly-half finished with 100 per cent record kicking from the tee and an almost faultless exhibition of out of hand punting and chip kicking.

All told, this was a good solid team performance by all 18 squad members.

Malton got the game underway and they showed attacking intent early on with Matt Bowman’s trademark leg drive and grit gaining valuable metres and giving Pocklington early notice of his strength and power.

That keen ambition perhaps descended into over keenness, which saw the hosts drop the final pass or fail to put in the extra man wide out into the corner during the opening 10 minutes.

Pocklington had an early chance with a penalty attempt that went wide and thereafter it was all with Malton scoring at regular intervals.

On 14 minutes, a scrum 10 metres out gave Sam Triffitt the pickup at the base and a quick dart to the line by Paul Angus set up a loose maul and position for a Rob Featherstone rumble.

Poole scored the first of his four conversions from as many attempts.

Then a 20-metre Malton drive upfield put them in the Pocklington red zone and led to a try for the captain Triffitt.

In the aftermath, an unnecessary rabbit punch by a Pocklington prop led to a yellow card for the perpetrator.

On the half hour mark, skipper Triffitt wisely entrusted Poole to knock over a 25-metre penalty goal.

With the Malton eight in complete control, further good ball arrived in James Bulmer’s hands and he danced through several would-be tacklers for Bailey Lamb to step and dummy his way to the line.

Coming into the second half with a 24-0 lead, Malton were soon camped in the Pocklington half and another Poole penalty on 47 minutes increased their advantage.

At this point, Malt began to experiment with ample supply of ball as Bulmer and Poole traded kicks with the Pocklington back three.

On 55 minutes, an eight-man shove rocked Pocklington and gave Triffitt a simple pick-up and twist over the line to complete his brace.

Malton rang the changes shortly afterwards but soon lost concentration and a couple of yellow cards gave Pocklington a consolation try.

But Malton wrapped up the game through another late Poole penalty.