A LATE penalty proved costly for Malton & Norton as their Regional 2 North East woes continued with a 25-22 defeat at home to high-flying Bradford Salem.

The hosts kicked off towards the town with the sun in their eyes on a fine clear afternoon, but almost immediately gave up the game’s first penalty.

That though set the tone of what was to come, for it proved to be a busy one for the referee’s whistle.

Undeterred, Malton added the first points to the board in just the sixth minute.

A strong run from John Vasconcelos propelled the hosts downfield, and after having won a penalty for a straight-arm tackle, they opted for a scrum, duly sending Paul Angus darting over the whitewash to put them seven points to the good.

And the Black and Whites had a golden chance to further their lead from the restart after Salem had strayed offside, but though the shot at goal had legs, it sailed narrowly wide.

The visitors’ ill-discipline though continued, their number 13 earning a yellow card for a third high tackle of the afternoon.

Malton needed just two minutes to capitalise on their numerical advantage, and after taking the option of a scrum penalty, Ben Boothman was hustled across the line to double their lead to 14-0.

Still a man down, Salem added their first points to the board in the 24th minute after opting for consecutive penalty lineouts, peeling around the outside of the home defence to score.

Restored to their full number, the West Riding outfit peppered the Malton line, who absorbed everything thrown at them for 10 minutes, but the inevitable score arrived as their giant lock forward crashed over to reduce the deficit to four.

Olly Owour came metres short from extending the hosts’ lead from a penalty lineout, but Salem’s ill-discipline instead saw them nudge further ahead from the tee on the stroke of half time, carrying a 17-10 lead in at the break.

Malton were set up for a bright start to the second half, but to their frustration gave up 60 metres in penalties and any chance to stretch their advantage went begging.

The visitors again found themselves a player down after their number eight was shown a yellow card for an outstretched arm in the 49th minute, though he was quickly followed by Boothman for the technical offence of hands in the ruck.

Salem duly altered their attacking tactics to effective short runs, and after Owour had been carded, took advantage of their extra player to draw level.

And they fired themselves into the lead three minutes later, ill-discipline again playing its part as a penalty paved the way for a sweeping right flank move.

Owour though made amends for his actions, and was the beneficiary as the home eight bullied their way over the whitewash with seven minutes remaining, taking the scoreline to 22 apiece.

Despite the sides’ difference in the league table, a draw may well have been a fair result, but it was not meant to be for Malton.

They conceded a penalty with just seconds remaining, Salem converting to hand them a narrow victory and leave their vocal travelling support cheering into the evening.

Malton & Norton will bid to return to winning ways at another high-flying team, Brodleians, this afternoon (3pm).