MALTON & Norton RUFC overturned a 7-3 half-time deficit to win 16-14 at Bridlington and record a league double over the seaside outfit.

The Gannock team, having hung on at the end, now sit ninth in North One East - 12 points above Brid, who occupy the final relegation spot - following a gritty performance in which all 18 members of the match-day squad played their part.

They are now looking safe from the drop with three games left, the next taking them on the road again on Saturday to seventh-placed Bradford & Bingley, who have lost their last three on the bounce.

Malt went to Brid with a refreshed team, their two-week lay-off allowing a couple of absentees to return while James Fox was called up from the second string.

Brid, kicking off, won their first penalty two minutes in but could not capitalise.

The opening 25 minutes were played largely in the middle of the pitch with the odd foray into each 22. Both defences were solid in an absorbing first half.

A deep kick into Brid's 22 finally gave Malt position to force a penalty and, on 35 minutes, Shane Poole kicked the three points to open the scoring.

But Brid capitalised on Malton's failure to look after possession soon after - along with a team yellow card served on skipper Sam Triffitt - to gain position.

The Brid pack stepped up a gear and battered at the line, eventually making the breakthrough on the overlap for a converted try and 7-3 interval lead.

Chris Inman came on at half-time for Malton to replace Fox at scrum-half, in his first appearance since mid-October,

Malt took play to Brid and quickly earned a penalty, Poole slotting it over. This was his last contribution before leaving the field with concussion.

Fox slid into the fly-half role, changing approach by feeding the backs more and reducing the kicking.

A scrum five metres out ended with the Malt pack steamrollering the Brid forwards over the line for Triffitt to dot down. Inman converted.

With 20 minutes remaining, Malton set up camp in the Brid half and battered away at the defence.

But after taking control of possession, a technical penalty was given away by Matt Bowman, who was adjudged to have gone past the ball in a five-man ruck situation and, reaching back for the loose ball, was blown up for offside.

Brid gratefully kicked the penalty deep into the Malton half. On 72 minutes, Fox was yellow-carded and Brid took advantage, scoring a second converted try to give the hosts a one-point lead.

But, from a clever grubber drop-out, Malt followed up swiftly and pressured Brid into conceding a penalty 32 metres out. Inman nervelessly drilled the ball through the uprights to give Malton a two-point lead.

Despite a four-minute battering from Brid - and two possible chances to kick penalties - Malt held on.