MALTON & Norton's hopes of climbing out of the relegation battle in North One East were dealt a blow as they lost 40-19 at Cleckheaton.

The hosts are effectively bottom of the top half of the table, and Malt top of the bottom half, but the difference in physicality and experience was telling.

Nevertheless, results elsewhere mean M&N stay 10 points and four places off the drop zone and need just one win from their last four games to be safe.

Conditions were excellent and both sides took advantage to produce flashes of excellent rugby.

From the kick-off, Cleckheaton tried to use their size to batter through and, after five minutes, they notched the opening converted try.

Malton were holding their own in the forward exchanges, though, and, with ball in hand, looked dangerous in the backs.

On the quarter-hour, their persistence paid dividends.

A loose Cleckheaton pass in the Malton half was hacked forward and the chase, led by Vus Dyantjies, took play to the five-metre line.

Will Hughes, who had another outstanding game, took the lineout cleanly and the ball was moved swiftly to the backs. Centre Nick Rangiuira was halted just short but prop Rob Featherstone drove over, Zweli Sodladla converting.

At this stage, Malton were matching the home side and producing some good phases.

However, Cleckheaton had too much experience in key positions to allow them leeway.

And, from a spilled Malton pass in the home half, the hosts made almost 40 metres. Their pack then set up a series of drives and the scrum-half darted through.

Former Worcester and Doncaster Knights ace Mike Swetman's kicking was superb all afternoon and his conversion put his side 14-7 up.

Five minutes later he placed a penalty neatly into the corner and, from a messy lineout, Cleckheaton made a break for the line before handing on to the backs to power over for a 21-7 half-time scoreline.

Malton were far from dispirited on the resumption and caused Cleckheaton to concede penalties galore.

From one such award, number eight Ali Coe took a quick tap kick and handed on to the backs for centre Tom Foan to break through and give his side renewed hope.

However, that was shortlived as Cleckheaton hit straight back to bag their bonus-point try from a tap penalty.

Then, after Featherstone was sin-binned for an accidental trip, another tap penalty led to another try, while a penalty with 15 minutes left made it 40-12.

Malton still had some fight left, and, on 70 minutes, a good move opened the door for Rangiuira to burst through and touch down, Sodladla converting.

However, despite further efforts, Malton were thwarted in their bid to register a bonus-point try.