MALTON & Norton may have been knocked out of the Yorkshire Shield at the semi-final stage but the club still had reason to be cheerful this week - with former player Tom Francis named in the frame for Wales’ RBS Six Nations clash with Italy on Saturday.

The uncapped Exeter Chiefs tighthead prop - who was brought up in Burythorpe - had already caught the eye of Welsh selectors and, following injuries to fellow front-rowers in the win over Ireland at the weekend, he was called up to the squad preparing for the final match of the series.

He was not named in the 22-man match-day party announced by Wales boss Warren Gatland yesterday (Tuesday) but is clearly in the Principality’s thoughts for the World Cup come the autumn.

Francis, 22, pictured, who qualifies for Wales through a grandparent, has been a key figure in Exeter’s set-piece this season as the South West club continue on the crest of a wave. This is his first season in the Premiership after spells with Championship outfits Doncaster and London Scottish.

He played in all age groups for Malton & Norton, including a successful Senior Colts team and the first XV.

The first team, meanwhile, lost 20-12 to Bridlington in the Shield semi-final after a lacklustre performance.

Malton were missing a few key players, but, said spokesman Bill Laidler, they were “outfought by a pumped-up” Bridlington outfit.

The team, certain of second place in Yorkshire One and a play-off for promotion against the runners-up from Durham/Northumberland One, return to league duty on Saturday, away to Yarnbury.

Laidler said: “The team must now concentrate on the remainder of the league season.

“Mathematically we can still win the league. However, the likelihood is that we will have a play-off against either Morpeth or Guisborough for a promotion place.

“On Saturday we will have to be on our mettle to keep up the league form.”

From the kick-off Malton against Brid, Malton were at sixes and sevens and soon fell behind to a penalty for failing to roll away after a tackle.

Five minutes later, they fell further behind. Running the ball from defence, Malton looked to be making progress on half way with a one-man overlap. However, the last pass was easily intercepted and, with no-one at home in the Malton defence, the try was scored between the posts for the hosts to take a deserved 10-0 lead.

Malton showed signs of life and a good break from the battling Josh Heggie almost created an opening but the pass to fellow centre Rob Armitage was adjudged to have gone slightly forward.

Brid again came back and set up camp deep in the Malton 22-metre area with a series of scrums.

Good defence initially kept them at bay but when they broke on the blind side a powerful run left the defence in tatters and the second try was scored and converted from wide out.

After 25 minutes Malton finally came to life.

From a scrum in the home 22, the ball was released to Armitage who drew the defence before setting wing Callum Stark free to cross in the corner.

For a brief period Malton looked like getting back into the game as another break from Heggie, who made ground every time he had the ball, was again thwarted by a forward pass.

More was expected from Malton in the second period. However, it got off to a bad start when a penalty was conceded in the first five minutes for Bridlington to extend the lead to 20-5.

Malt did improve and mounted a series of good drives which had the hosts in difficulties but, with poor decision-making behind the pack, little headway was made.

The breakthrough eventually came when good lineout ball was secured and the controlled drive gave substitute number eight James Machin the touchdown.

A good conversion from Paul Angus put Malton back into the game.

Both sides strived for more but the contest became a battle in midfield as neither could gain an advantage and the game fizzled out for a deserved Brid win.

Malton: S Zondo, C Stark, R Armitage, J Heggie, J Palliser, S Moabi, P Angus, N Salisbury, J Thornton, R Featherstone, J Rounthwaite, S Emms, T Lowry, A Coe, S Stephenson. Subs used: L Welch, J Machin.