MALTON & Norton had the frame of the posts to thank as they ground out a narrow 26-24 victory at Old Crossleyans in the Regional 2 North East.

After scoring in the last minute, all eyes were on the Halifax side’s kicker, but he could not quite bend his conversion round as Malton held on for a precious victory.

Crossleyans kicked off into the low sun, but it was Malton who applied the early pressure, launching wave after wave of attacks on the home line.

And after being awarded a penalty 10 metres out, on the second phase, Will Dunn crashed over to open the visitors’ account in just the seventh minute. 

Such was Malton’s early dominance; their hosts only made it into the attacking half on two occasions.

Crossleyans’ discipline didn’t help matters either, Malton taking full advantage to send Paul Angus across from a penalty kick to the corner and a lineout after the hosts had been penalised for a deliberate slap down of the ball on the quarter-hour.

With skipper Sam Triffitt withdrawn midway through the half, the visitors shuffled their pack, but after shoving the hosts off their own set-piece with the line beckoning, a penalty put paid to a third score of the afternoon.

The Halifax outfit though grew into the match, with Malton having a decisive chop tackle from Dunn to thank for snuffing out the danger. 

Three minutes later, the hosts lost their influential number 10 to a shoulder injury as Malton were put to the test defending their line, but they were soon again applying the pressure at the other end of the pitch.

Two successive set scrums opened the door for Jack Jones to cross the whitewash with a simple show and step to hand Malton a 19-0 lead on the stroke of half-time.
Crossleyans though came out with a fire under them in the second half and were a team transformed.

Five minutes into the half they were over the Malton line, but were adjudged to have made one roll too many. However, that was a warning that was not heeded.

Malton were made to pay for three consecutive penalties which pinned them back to their line. Crossleyans found a way through in the 55th minute before their kicker hit the uprights, something that would come back to haunt them later in the match.

Malton’s poor discipline continued, their old habits resurfacing under pressure as Bell was served a yellow card before their stand-in captain was given a team warning just after the hour.

And having been on constant defensive duties, Crossleyans’ pressure eventually told as the visitors’ defence was breached for a second time in the 66th minute. This time, the conversion sailed through to cut the gap to seven points.

That though proved to be just what Malton needed to regroup, as James Bulmer was able to gather a perfectly weighted kick to the corner, setting up a catch-and-drive with Tom Lowry to eke out their lead and secure a try bonus point with 10 minutes remaining.

Malton began to set their sights on securing the other four points, but Crossleyans had other ideas, especially after Ollie Owour was carded for interfering with the number nine at a loose scrum.

And in the 75th minute, they rolled over the Malton line to set up a one-score finale and a potential share of the spoils.

That looked to be on the cards with just a minute left on the clock, as the inevitable score materialised.

All eyes were on the Crossleyans kicker, but he again hit the uprights as Malton breathed a collective sigh of relief, holding on for victory by two points.

Malton return to action at The Gannock on Saturday against Goole.