MALTON & Norton had technology to thank as they booked their place in the final of the Papa John’s Community Cup Regional 2 North Plate.

The Ryedale side had played out a 26-26 draw at Goole, thanks to a last-gasp try from the hosts, but after a 20-minute consultation, a mobile phone ultimately sealed their progression to the final at Darlington’s Mowden Park on Saturday.

Malton kicked off, but missed an early opportunity to add points after firing a penalty off target.

The opening minutes were spent in the Goole half, but small inaccuracies were already evident as several moves fizzled out.

Goole took the lead with 10 minutes played, as from their first foray into the Malton half, the ball was recycled to the wing, before their speedy hooker took the scoring pass to add the first seven points to the board.

With neither side able to impose their authority, a yellow card to Malton’s Tom Foan proved decisive, with Goole pouncing immediately, slipping an inside pass for their lock to power over just after the half-hour.

A mounting penalty count of 7-2 was proving costly in terms of lost territory and half time was signalled as Malton gave up an eighth.

Despite their 12-0 deficit, the visitors started the second half on the front foot, but lost their young fly-half after a mere three minutes to an ankle injury.

James Bulmer moved up to fill the slot, and with Malton finally putting together the phrases in attack, Ted Wainright brought them onto the scoreboard with 47 minutes played.

Malton opted to rearrange their pack as Sam Triffitt moved to prop and Henry Cornforth into the back row, with Goole hitting back a mere minute later from loose play to take the scoreline to 19-7.

Malton were left feeling aggrieved by the referee, but in the final 10 minutes, stepped up to turn the game on its head.

First, Tom Ray picked up Bulmer’s clever grubber and beat several defenders to cross the whitewash, before a Goole yellow card almost proved costly as Joao Vasconcelos powered over, only to be denied by the grounding.

But having won a penalty for offside, Malton opted to scrum, shunting the Goole eight over the whitewash for Triffitt to score. 

Things got better still for Malton with two minutes remaining after Charlie Ray bamboozled the home defence to add another seven points.

But Goole were not to be denied, and on the stroke of full time scored a converted try to level the scores at 26 apiece. Twenty minutes of chaos followed before Malton were finally awarded victory. 

The final is to be the fourth game at Mowden Park on Saturday (5pm).