As it was passed through several hands a maul was formed 15 metres from the visitors’ line in which Malton displayed their great brand of ball retention and cohesion.

The result was a touchdown after two minutes scored by prop Rob Featherstone, who is quickly repaying the faith shown in him with an ever-increasing try tally.

Malton kept up the pressure but were reduced in numbers temporarily when the smallest man on the field, centre Vusumzi Dyantjies, was shown a yellow card for some overly robust play at a ruck - a sign of how committed this Malton side is.

Malton nevertheless extended the lead when Heath were offside at a ruck and scrum-half Zwelakhe Sodladla added the penalty.

Four minutes later Heath replied when Malton held onto the ball too long after a tackle and fly-half Esra Hinchliffe booted the three points.

Malton were in no mood to give anything else away and on 25 minutes showed their qualities.

A quick tap penalty after Heath illegally wheeled a set scrum was quickly moved into the visitors’ 22-metre area and some good drives took play close to the line for second-row Jamie Rounthwaite to break away for the second try.

Sodladla converted and Malton led 15-3 lead.

From the restart Malton again went to town. A high kick from defence by Sodladla was followed up well and, when the chasers caught the recipient on the half-way line, the ball squirted out of the side of the ruck for flanker George Harrison to pounce and streak to the posts, with four Malton players alongside and no sign of a defender.

That was the crippling blow for Heath who then saw Hinchliffe sin-binned for slowing down the release of the ball after a tackle.

Heath came out for the second period 22-3 down but intent on redressing the balance and they were given some hope in the first minute.

Malton were penalised for holding onto the ball after a tackle and Hinchliffe added the three points.

But back came Malton, with a passage of play which again involved brilliant handling in the backs and forwards alike. The final forward drive was too much for Heath to handle and Featherstone added his second try, Sodladla converting.

At the midway point came the try of the game, which rounded off Malton’s scoring.

Malton were awarded a penalty 30 metres out and near to touch. The alert Sodladla took it quickly and set off towards home base, leaving several would-be tacklers in his wake as he sliced through to the posts for a try and conversion

Heath seemed to have a second lease of life and came back strongly in the final 20 minutes. However, despite some good drives and being ensconced in the Malton 22 for long periods, they were unable to penetrate the defensive wall which was rock solid throughout.

Malton: S Zondo, I Cooke, V Dyantjies, J Heggie, B Woodhouse, N Daley, Z Sodladla, J Lumley , J Thornton, R Featherstone, S Emms, J Rounthwaite, G Harrison, S Triffitt, A Coe. Subs (all used): N Salisbury, M Bradshaw, M Perkins.

• A DEPLETED Malton & Norton 2nds crashed 51-5 to Scunthorpe, despite battling till the end. Ali Fothergill got their only try.