MALTON & Norton are praying a week off from league action will give them the lucky break they need to get their promotion tilt back on track.

Saturday’s 24-0 derby defeat by York at The Gannock - their first loss at home this term and the first time they had failed to get into double figures, let alone be nilled - took their losing run up to three games and left them with only one win in the last five outings, all following their superb 17-match winning streak.

Malt have no match over the Easter weekend, barring a run-out at the relatively light-hearted annual Good Friday Pock 7s at Percy Road, and they hope the Easter break will allow some key men to recover from injuries which have begun to take their toll at just the wrong time of the campaign.

Indeed, Ian Cooke, playing at full-back, and flanker Tom Lowry joined the growing list on the treatment table on Saturday, when coach Chris Creber had to don the boots again as a playing substitute.

Spokesman Bill Laidler said: “Our recent run of poor results continued with the first home loss of the season to a deserving York outfit.

“Injuries, particularly in the threequarters, have decimated Malton’s resources and the make-up of the side is much changed from that of a few weeks ago when they were at their best.

“That does not detract from a more complete performance from York, who took full advantage.”

Malton are guaranteed the runners-up berth in Yorkshire One but need to find form in their last two games of term before their promotion play-off against the runners-up in Northumberland/Durham One, with a place back in North One East alongside runaway champions Doncaster Phoenix at stake.

Their penultimate match is at Bridlington on April 11, before they finish by hosting unbeaten Phoenix.

Laidler added: “We now have a break with no game on Saturday. Hopefully some of the injuries will have cleared up so that plans for the promotion play-off game can get under way in earnest.”

The first quarter of Saturday’s derby saw both sides test each other out in all departments, with York holding sway up front and Malton putting together some good passages of play in the loose.

After 15 minutes, though, Malton temporarily lost full-back Cooke with an injury and saw flanker Lowry exit the action with a shoulder injury.

York’s first try came when a kick to the corner from a 20th-minute penalty produced the opportunity for the visitors to set up a catch and drive. They executed the move perfectly to record the first score.

Playing against a strong breeze, Malton were coping well but, when York again kicked deep, the hosts failed to clear their lines and conceded a five-metre scrum.

The bigger York pack made their presence felt and shoved Malton back over the line for their second try and a 14-point half time lead.

With Cooke restored to the side after the interval, Malton were still in with a chance.

However, they lost a lineout close to their own line 10 minutes in and York again used the power of the pack to drive over for their third try.

Much of the play was now confined to centre-field with some big tackles being made on both sides but very little flowing action to entertain the spectators.

York, however, with the game drawing to a close, provided the crowd with a piece of good rugby.

Running out from defence, they made ground rapidly, with the ball passing through several pairs of hands and with backs and forwards combining well to get the final and bonus point try to seal a deserved victory and bragging rights.

Marcus Britland grabbed two of the York tries, with Dave Bates and Sam Thorpe the other two.

Malton: I Cooke, R Dempsey, R Armitage, S Moabi, B Woodhouse, C Birkett, P Angus, N Salisbury, J Thornton, R Featherstone, J Rounthwaite, J Lumley, T Lowry, A Coe, S Emms. Subs used: M Bradshaw, C Creber, L Welch.