THE season for Malton & Norton’s Under 17 Colts has become even more of a memorable one as they claimed the Yorkshire Cup trophy with a 20-15 victory over Pontefract.

Malton’s supporters, including 17 former players, arrived in their droves at Doncaster Knights’ Castle Park, and found the occasion well worth the journey to South Yorkshire.

Pontefract kicked off in perfect conditions after a slight delay as the match ball provided was rejected by their no10, with Malton watching as the ball bounced into touch.

They took possession from the line-out and for the next four minutes put Malton under extreme pressure in their red zone until skipper Oliver Owuor effected a turnover and broke free, resulting in Malton advancing into the opposition’s half.

Earning a penalty, Jack Jones deftly placed it into touch 20 metres out.

However, an overthrow at the line out put paid to territory gained and a minute later Pontefract had a shot at goal that sailed wide.

On 13 minutes, the game’s opening scrum demonstrated that Malton’s eight were the equal of a larger Pontefract pack.

Seven minutes later, Malton were in the opposition’s red zone pressurising and earning a kickable penalty. Ignoring the potential three points on offer saw a short move taken, however it came to nothing.

In the 25th minute Pontefract’s prop was shown a yellow card for taking a man beyond the horizontal in the tackle, and with the extra man Malton took immediate advantage, sending Alex Packer over for the opening five points of the game.

And just three minutes later, following a good turnover in the Malton half of the pitch, Jones put up a high ball. With Packer winning the contest in the air and securing the ball, he galloped 30 metres to score his brace and put his side 10 points to the good.

Pontefract threw everything at Malton, who withstood the battering, and a good touch-finder by Jones looked as if it would see his team through to half time.

The visitors, though, had other ideas, and following an infringement at the line-out, they put a shot at goal through the uprights to finish the half seven points adrift and leaving the game still all to play for.

Malton introduced two substitutes shortly after the break, complying with the competition rules, whereby each member of the squad must play a certain amount of the game.

One of those, Robert Knaggs, made his impact felt with several important carries to keep Malton on the attack and provided impetus to his fellow pack members, resulting in Pontefract being pinned in their 20-metre area.

In the 48th minute, Malton were awarded a penalty 15 metres out, and using a set move, they drove to the Pontefract red zone.

Malton’s patience in the attack paid off, and after eight phases, Harry Dawkins was the beneficiary, going over into the corner to take the score to 15-3.

Now in control, Malton again camped in the Pontefract half, and in the 57th minute seized the game by the scruff of the neck.

A clever kick-pass from Jones put in Max Bradshaw, who jumped and competed for the ball before bringing the score to 20-3.

Pontefract were not finished though, and a tired Malton would instead be shocked by their comeback.

The West Yorkshire side won the territory battle, and had their just reward with 11 minutes left to play when a lovely show of hands saw them stride over underneath the posts to reduce the margin to 10 points.

And Malton were further stunned two minutes later after some quick thinking saw the Pontefract 9 race unchallenged through a somewhat lackadaisical defence for another five points and set up a grandstand finish.

But Malton held onto their precious advantage, the trophy a just reward for a fantastic season that has also seen them remain unbeaten in their Yorkshire Colts U17 B Division.