North 2 East: Malton & Norton 14, Driffield 16

The East Yorkshire derby once again lived up to its billing with Driffield narrowly taking the spoils to avenge their defeat earlier in the season.

Malton started the stronger and exerted pressure on the Driffield defence from the off. Penalties were conceded by Driffield for holding onto the ball after a tackle and for handling in a ruck. Ian Cooke converted both to ease Malton into an early lead.

Driffield then took play into the Malton 22 and, winning their own line-out ball, set up a rolling maul. Flanker Karl Wood was adjudged to be the man at the bottom of the pile as it crossed the line for a try. Scrum half Tim Foster converted with the assistance of the upright to put Driffield into the lead with only 15 minutes gone.

When a set move at a scrum went wrong, Malton were penalised for obstruction and Foster added to his side's tally. On the half hour, Malton prop forward James Machin broke his ankle, causing a five minute stoppage and both sides went to their dressing rooms.

On the resumption, Malton took up the challenge and, from a line-out close to the Driffield line, spread the ball across the field in an orthodox passing movement for right wing Tom Stephenson to score in the corner.

Driffield fought back and a fine break in mid-field by left wing Alistair McLaren almost brought a try but last ditch tackling saved Malton. A penalty from Cooke gave Malton the half time advantage of four points.

The game was still anybody's and was certainly keeping both sets of supporters on their toes. Driffield drew first blood in the second period with a penalty from Foster as both sides battled for supremacy. No quarter was given as the intensity increased and the physicality of the game became greater.

With the stiff breeze at their backs, Driffield were expected to dominate territory but an outstanding display from the Malton pack in which the back row were always prominent prevented Driffield from gaining any worthwhile possession.

A series of minor injuries appeared to disrupt the Malton pattern, but still they hung on to dominate territorial advantage. The Driffield defence proved equally as effective as Malton's as they repelled everything and a further Foster penalty eased them onto a two-point lead with minutes remaining. Try as they did, Malton could not get the score to clinch the double as Driffield took the spoils.

Both sides can take great credit from this game. None did better than the Malton back row of Andy Mitchell, Phil Ryan and James McKay, with Liam Vaughan and Carl Muscroft in the front row not far behind.

The result could not have been more different for Malton's second team. They managed to pull off a 34-22 win at home again against Thirsk. With a number of players unavailable, the seconds fielded a much changed side looking more like a set of colts than seniors. Although arriving with 14 players, Malton quickly set to work using their apparent speed and fitness advantage to run the heavy Thirsk pack around the soft pitch.

Matthew Midgley was the first to score for Malton with a clear turn of pace leaving his opposite man helpless. Morris Williams failed to convert for a further two points but shortly afterwards was allowed a three-point consolation penalty kick.

Malton then went off the boil, allowing Thirsk to come back with three tries in quick succession after powerful forward drives. With periods of ill-temper and disagreement with the referee, Thirsk had a player yellow-carded just before half time.

The second half saw a refreshed Malton making charging runs through Adam Turnbull, Simon Massey and Simon Macalena. With the wind now in Malton's favour, Williams punished Thirsk with a number of kicks deep into their 22.

With confidence refreshed and the score gap closing, fly half Williams gave Malton the points they deserved with a welcome hat-trick. Thirsk had some opportunities to come back but two try-saving tackles from Midgley allowed Malton to leave Thirsk bruised but victorious.

Updated: 15:26 Wednesday, March 09, 2005