FAILURE to turn pressure into points and basic mistakes at crucial times cost Malton and Norton RUFC as they lost 30-22 at Sandal.

Having had an easy passage in the Northumberland/Durham league last season, Malt are finding the going tougher in Yorkshire One and must sharpen their act.

The game was marred by a neck injury to Ben Martin but a hospital check-up found no serious problem and he was released that evening.

The hosts' first points came from a breakaway attack. The Malton forwards surged upfield and flanker Guy Dolman burst into the home 22, but - as was to happen several times - the ball was lost in the tackle and Sandal moved play to the left where the winger raced home from 80 metres for a converted try.

Malton kept up the forward pressure and with better luck could have crossed a few times before doing so when good interplay between centres Liam Cowton and Ian Cooke created the opening for fly-half Chris Creber, Cooke goaling.

Malton were always susceptible to the counter-attack and one such break, aided by poor tackling, saw a Sandal prop saunter through for a converted try.

Malton were still more threatening as Sandal were often penalised at rucks and mauls, culminating in a yellow card and a penalty goal by Cooke.

Despite excellent handling conditions, the catalogue of Malton errors continued into the second period.

A needless hand in a ruck and an offside offence gave Sandal two penalty goals, and another breakaway try, assisted by woeful tackling, saw the hosts go 27-10 ahead.

This, however, spurred Malton back to life. Carl Muscroft and Andy Mitchell were to the fore in the forward exchanges and Muscroft scored with a powerful burst to the corner.

Two minutes later, Cooke gathered in his own 22 and set off on a mazy run to score a remarkable try under the posts to bring his side to within five points.

Sandal looked shot but a ten-minute delay due to Martin's injury gave them time to regroup, and they sealed the game with a late penalty.