Malton & NORTON RUFC were cut adrift at the foot of Yorkshire One by a 16-15 home defeat against closest rivals Selby.

The visitors followed up last week’s crushing Yorkshire Shield victory at The Gannock with crucial league triumph – only their second victory of the campaign.

Malton were seeking revenge in this basement duel and they should have edged it, but allowed the game to slip away.

Malton were out of the blocks smartly and applied pressure from the start. With five minutes gone, possession was won at a scrum and fly-half Chris Creber made a burst before handing on to full-back Ian Cooke.

The skipper glided through the defence to send wing Elliot Richardson over between the posts. Tom Collard converted. Selby lost possession in midfield and, with the visitors in disarray, centre Marcel Anthony raced away to record his first score for the club. Selby then staged a revival and on a rare visit to the home half they got on the scoreboard with a penalty when Malton entered a ruck from the wrong side. With the half deep into injury time a further penalty, when Malt were caught offside, brought the half-time score to 12-6.

After the break it was Selby who started with a bang. From a lineout 15 metres out, a set move was perfectly executed again for a try between the posts and the conversion gave the Swans a one-point lead. A Collard penalty soon had Malt back in front when Selby were caught offside. Entering the closing 20 minutes, Selby again took a one-point lead when Malt transgressed at a ruck. Selby missed a simple penalty and the same was repeated at the other end when Malt had the chance to go into the lead, and Selby managed to hang on.

Meanwhile, York suffered their fourth defeat of the season, losing 28-3 at Scarborough.

In Yorkshire Four, in-form York Railway Institute toppled leaders Harrogate Pythons 20-10 at New Lane to move to within a point of the summit.

Full-back Paul Guest kicked a penalty and Matt Turner scored a try as RI led 8-3 at half-time.

After the break, Turner went over for his second try, while Guest also touched down and converted.