MALTON & Norton said farewell in fine fashion to two of the aces that have helped to put them into a Yorkshire One title race.

Malton's 31-12 win at Pontefract on Saturday was the last outing for Zweli Sodladla and Vus Dyantjies before their return to South Africa.

The Ryedale outfit, second in the table, will be confident they can continue to put the pressure on leaders Doncaster Phoenix - who kept their 100 per cent record intact with a narrow win over Selby - until the two meet on the last day of the season. But spokesman Bill Laidler said the pair, at the forefront of Malt's free-flowing style, would be missed.

"The game was the parting game for Zweli Sodladla and Vus Dyantjies who have had a pivotal role in Malton's success to date this season," said Laidler, with this victory being the team's 15th on the trot in the league.

"Both hope to return later in the year, and they will be welcomed with open arms."

Of the win, Laidler added: "Once again the Malton back row of Sam Triffitt, Ali Coe and Tom Lowry were outstanding but the other five members of the pack were very close behind.

"They are not the heaviest but make up for that lack of bulk with their pace around the pitch and great skill levels at close quarters.

"The threequarters once again showed some delightful touches and on another day may well have cut the home defence to ribbons with their pace and ingenuity. Pontefract can take credit for not allowing that to happen."

Yorkshire One has a rest week this coming Saturday, with Malton getting back into action with a derby at home to neighbours Scarborough the following week.

Malton will be hoping the weather is again kind, a sunny afternoon at Pontefract providing almost perfect playing conditions for them on Saturday.

The men from The Gannock duly showed their intent in the opening two minutes with a great break from defence by Sizwe Zondo, who scythed through would-be tacklers before handing on to fly-half Nick Daley with 30 metres to go.

The Pontefract defence was quick to recover and, with the line beckoning, he was brought down just short. Malt quickly recycled the ball and appeared to have crossed for the first try only to have the score ruled out for obstruction.

The Malton pack, although slightly outmuscled in the set-pieces, were covering every inch of the ground to outnumber Pontefract at almost every breakdown.

After 10 minutes, Malton stole the ball at a Pontefract lineout 10 metres from the home line. A good reset followed by a well-controlled drive provided prop Rob Featherstone with another try to add to his growing tally.

Pontefract, though, are in a relegation fight and were not going to gift victory to Malton. They had plenty of controlled aggression and drive but lacked the finesse and pace of Malton.

That determination paid dividends on the quarter-hour when a break along the left wing made good ground. A hack forward was followed up by the home wing who miraculously picked the ball up at full speed to score in the corner.

Malton were being made to fight for everything but a piece of sublime play after 15 minutes secured the lead.

Coe won the ball at the tail of a lineout on half-way. Daley then floated a perfect pass into the hands of Zondo, who entered the line at pace to slice through and race over from 50 metres.

Sodladla added the conversion to take his season tally to 200 points.

Malton were now dominating territorial advantage but resolute defence prevented any further score until the 33rd minute when, from a scrum five metres out, Coe picked up and fed Sodladla, who raced through the gap to touch down for a try he converted himself.

Again Pontefract came back. Using their forward strength they were twice over the Malton line only to fail to ground the ball properly.

When the third scrum in succession collapsed, the referee awarded a penalty try which cut the gap at the interval to 19-12.

The hosts started the second period in determined mood but excellent defence kept them out and all too frequently they conceded penalties in their eagerness to gain possession in good areas.

The tables turned midway through the half when a good Malton move was halted by a deliberate knock-on which saw a Pontefract player sin-binned.

Malton took advantage of the extra man and set a series of pick and drives for Featherstone to again burrow over.

That score took the spirit away from Pontefract and Malt pressed for more. The home defence held firm until the final minute - the score again coming from the pack after the backs had set up a maul five metres out.

This time the set of pick and drives saw Sean Emms get the touchdown for Sodladla to convert.

Malton: S Zondo, B Woodhouse, J Heggie, V Dyantjies, I Cooke, N Daley, Z Sodladla, N Salisbury, S Thompson, R Featherstone, J Rounthwaite, S Emms, T Lowry, S Triffitt, A Coe. Subs: (all used) D Cooke, J Lumley, C Stark.