LONG-TIME leaders Malton & Norton RUFC sealed the Yorkshire One title with a 41-8 triumph at Ilkley.

The Ryedale side produced an assured performance in their penultimate game of the season to secure promotion to North 1 East.

Within three minutes of the kick off, Malton were in the lead after Ilkley were caught offside and Teei Piawi notched the penalty. Ilkley were then penalised for dissent and Piawi punished them with another penalty. The home side narrowed the gap midway through the half with a penalty after Malton were penalised for collapsing a maul and second-row Richard Webster was sin-binned. On the stroke of half-time, Malton got their first try as wing Josh Saunders fielded a kick, jinked past the defence and raced over from 25 metres. Piawi converted.

The second half saw a flowing Malton produce some of their best rugby of the season, which brought four more tries. Fly-half Tom Gravell and Ryan Lonsdale combined to open the gap for wing Henry Newitt to streak over for a converted try. Ilkley used a two-man overlap to cross in the corner, but Carl Muscroft and Adam Turnbull laid on a try for Malt flanker George Harrison.

Piawi was again on target with the conversion. Two minutes later, Lonsdale and Ian Cooke put Saunders in the clear for his second try, which was converted by Piawi.

Another Cooke break gave Gravell the chance to put his name on the scoresheet with the final converted try.

York are guaranteed a fifth-placed finish in Yorkshire One after a 22-17 victory at Bradford Salem.

Salem scored first with a penalty try after a long period of forward pressure, but York replied quickly when Aaron Thompson crossed for an unconverted try.

Salem added a penalty before York had a purple patch in which Liam Watling and Charlie Nicholson scored good tries, one of which was converted for a 17-10 half-time lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with York defending for long periods.

An injury to Matt Birch saw Jon Dawes take the fly-half position and Rich Downey come on as full-back.

Downey made an immediate impact, using his speed to score in the left corner to put York clear. Salem replied with another forwards’ try and conversion, but York held on.

Selby crashed to a 40-15 defeat at Castleford.

York RI lost 33-16 at home to Aireborough in Yorkshire Three.