MALTON and Norton RUFC scored a last-ditch try to overcome Ryton and move into the fourth round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase.

They won 17-10 at the Gannock but were only spared the agony of extra time thanks to a late try from Carl Muscroft.

Malton started brightly enough, stringing together several phases of play, but failed to make the breakthrough.

The stalemate was broken on 20 minutes when Ryton fly-half Steve Fudge converted a penalty.

The home side responded quickly when an Ian Cooke kick to the corner was fumbled by the Ryton defence and debutant winger Andy Thompson was on hand to swoop on the loose ball and race between the posts.

Ryton struck next when centre Hal Convery weaved his way past Malton's defence to touch down under the posts for a fine individual try which Fudge converted.

But the scores were level at the break when Phil Pateman sliced through to score in the corner.

The second period was a scrappy affair with neither side showing any dominance and turning over possession far too frequently.

But with extra time looming, Malton came back to life. With veterans Pat Stephenson and Tim Casey now on the field they stole the ball at a Ryton line out and from the ruck hooker Muscroft, who had just returned to action after a ten-minute spell in the sin bin, took matters into his own hands.

Driving forward he swatted off two desperate tacklers before bursting away to cross in the corner for the all decisive score.

Cooke converted and the spectators were spared the agony of extra time as the final whistle sounded.