Yorkshire One - Pontefract 11 pts - Malton and Norton 27 pts. The game of the season produced the result of the season for Malton and Norton. This fantastic victory over their nearest rivals extends Malt's lead at the top to four points and a third successive promotion is now well within their sights.

Even more pleasing was the way in which both sides approached the game. The large crowd, in which Malton supporters outnumbered the home fans, were treated to a marvellous game, which produced rugby of a very high calibre.

From the first whistle, Malton were on the offensive and some sparkling rugby had Pontefract hanging on by the skin of their teeth for much of the first half.

However, hang on they did with some excellent defence. The only score of the half was a penalty from the boot of Ian Cooke, but on another day against less resolute defence, Malton could well have been out of sight at the break.

There is only so much punishment a side can take, though, and the first breach came just after the break.

Malton centre Will Barber made a determined break from his own half before full back Jason Simpson took up the running to feed centre David Webster, who crossed for the game's first try in the corner. With a great kick, Ian Cooke extended the lead.

Ponte reduced the lead with a penalty when Malton were penalised for holding onto the ball after a tackle. At this stage, the referee, who had an excellent match otherwise, saw fit to produce his yellow card to both scrum halves after a 'handbags-at-ten-paces incident' and also to a Pontefract forward for a professional infringement.

In both cases, in the context of the game, warnings would have been more appropriate.

The advantage went Malton's way and more sparkling play saw them progress into the home 22-metre area and Carl Muscroft burst over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Again, Ponte struck back with a penalty but Malton had saved their best and set up a rolling maul 30 yards from the home line. With the ball safely at the back, they inched forward, with Chris Creber showing that he is more than just a good fly half by directing operations from the base in the absence of the temporarily inactive Jon Newsome.

For some inexplicable reason, when a try looked a certainty, the maul collapsed inches from the line. Creber passed wide to Barber who, although he had an overlap outside, cut back in to cross unopposed between the posts.

Ponte now looked a beaten side as Cooke converted to give his side an unassailable lead. More was to follow from the Malton pack, who had been awesome throughout.

With Newsome restored to the fray, they set up another maul and this time trundled all the way to the line for Newsome to touch down for his side's final score. With time ebbing away, Pontefract crossed over in the dying minutes to make the scoreline more respectable.

Many of Malton and Norton's elder statesmen said they had witnessed one of the best performances produced by a Malton side in the entire 50 years of the club's existence. All 18 players played as though their lives depended on it.

Hopefully, there is more to come from this rapidly maturing outfit. Although the whole side was at its peak, it was pleasing to see the home-grown talents of Andy Mitchell, David Cooke, David Webster, Carl Muscroft and Duncan Foster very much to the fore in such a big game.

see leader, page 8

Updated: 11:04 Wednesday, January 07, 2004