HIGH-FLYING Malton & Norton brightened a dark and damp afternoon with a comprehensive 38-13 victory at Wath-on-Dearne to maintain their excellent run in Yorkshire One.

Club spokesman Bill Laidler was delighted with his side’s continued form, with Zwelakhe Sodlada, Jamie Rounthwaite and Sam Triffitt receiving particular praise.

They remain seven points adrift of leaders Doncaster Phoenix, who avenged their cup defeat by York last week with a 23-16 win at Clifton Park to make it 10 out of 10 in the league. And this coming’s Saturday’s match against fourth-placed Yarnbury at The Gannock is likely to be a much sterner test for the Ryedale side.

But Laidler reckons they will go into this weekend’s clash in fine fettle. He said: “We produced our best display of the season to date to defeat a large but ponderous home side who had no answer to our pace and slickness of hand.

“Again this was a whole team performance with some excellent individual performances thrown in.

“With both regular scrum-halves unavailable through injury, Sodladla was pressed into action at the base of the scrum and showed what a complete rugby player he is.

“Jamie Rounthwaite had probably his best game in Malton colours and along with Triffitt was at the heart of all Malton did. What they lack in bulk they more than compensate for with mobility and drive.”

Malton showed their intentions from the off with the opening try after just three minutes.

The pack took the ball on from a lineout on the home 22-metre line before releasing it to the backs for fly-half Nick Daley to make a half break before handing on to centre Vusumzi Dyantjies, who darted over. Sodladla converted and the show was on the road.

Wath attempted to use their weight advantage to batter a way through but were thwarted time after time by ferocious tackling.

When Malton did break free it was with style. Running the ball from defence they quickly made ground. The pack then took over to ensure possession was retained before sending good ball to the backs for centre Josh Heggie to race over between the posts. Sodladla goaled.

Wath again hammered away but the visitors’ commitment was admirable as they not only repelled all attacks but often drove their bigger opponents backwards.

However, Malton did concede two penalties just before the interval to give Wath hope for the second half.

That hope was short-lived as Malton resumed with a flourish.

From a scrum, number eight Mark Bradshaw broke and made ground before handing on to wing Ian Cooke who crossed for his side’s third try.

Another fine Sodladla conversion made it 21-6.

Wath were not finished and a clean catch and drive from a lineout created a gap and brought a converted try 21-13. But as the afternoon darkened Malton began to light up.

In an excellent passage of play, Malt set up a series of rolling mauls deep in home territory to moved ever closer and skipper Triffitt, outstanding throughout, was credited with the touchdown for his side’s bonus-point try.

Sodladla converted but was then sin-binned for 10 minutes during which Malton soaked up everything Wath could throw at them.

Indeed, Malton scored again when Wath were penalised at a ruck and Cooke booted the three points.

Malton were in full flow, with Sizwe Zondo putting fear into the home side with good runs, and the pack dominating the forward exchanges.

With full-time looming, Malton again went on the attack and a clean catch and drive from a lineout had the home defence in tatters and John Lumley, on as a substitute, touched down, with Cooke goaling.

Malton: S Zondo, I Cooke, V Dyantjies, J Heggie, B Woodhouse, N Daley, Z Sodladla, N Salisbury, J Thornton, R Featherstone, S Emms, J Rounthwaite, T Lowry, S Triffitt, M Bradshaw. Subs (all used): T Newitt, J Lumley, D Cooke.