MALTON & Norton have seemingly hit bad luck at just the wrong time in the run-up to their promotion play-off.

Having enjoyed a 17-game winning streak to secure the runners-up spot in Yorkshire One, they have since been knocked out of the Yorkshire Shield and lost two of their last three league games – this latest being a 30-27 reverse at Yarnbury despite four tries by flying winger Tom Newitt.

With South African aces Zweli Sodladla and Vus Dyantjies having returned home, injuries have also crept in, forcing coach Chris Creber to go on to the bench on Saturday.

Malton now have three games left before their play-off with either Guisborough or Morpeth, who are contesting the runner-up berth in Northumberland/Durham One.

The first of these is at The Gannock on Saturday against York.

Spokesman Bill Laidler said: “Our run of bad luck continued at Horsforth with this defeat by Yarnbury.

“Injuries, which have been a rarity this season, are now taking their toll and not only was Chris Creber forced to don his boots again, but skipper Sam Triffitt was injured in the warm-up meaning a late reshuffle.

“Five tries each were scored by both sides, in contrasting styles, with Yarnbury just edging the day.”

Added Laidler: “Hopefully some of the wounded will be able to return but the play-off must now be the goal.”

Malton could hardly have begun the game worse. Their kick-off sailed straight into touch, ceding possession to the home side, who made progress into the visitors’ 22-metre area and set up a series of drives to pull in the defences.

When they attacked the blind side, an overlap was created and the first try of the game came with three minutes on the clock. A tricky wind hampered the goalkickers all afternoon and the conversion failed.

Malton soon struck back and, from a scrum in centre-field, number eight Ali Coe fed scrum-half Paul Angus, who in turn fed left-wing Newitt, who raced away from the defenders to touch down in the corner.

On the quarter-hour mark, he was at it again.

Coe took a quick tap and go from a free-kick in midfield. Full-back Sizwe Zondo was in support and created the pass to Newitt, who again sprinted past his marker to give his side a 10-5 lead.

Whenever Yarnbury had possession, veteran fly-half Carl Paterson – the brother of former York City Knights rugby league captain Lee Paterson - continually drove Malton back with a display of almost perfect positional kicking. It may not have been pretty to watch but, when coupled to a dominant lineout, it was greatly effective as a driving maul is very hard to stop legally. The point was made twice before half-time when two tries resulted from carbon-copy moves, giving Yarnbury a 15-10 interval lead.

The hosts put Malton on the defensive on the resumption, with the visitors suffering a further blow when hooker Jim Thornton was sin-binned for a technical offence close to the line.

The danger was cleared but, five minutes later, Yarnbury were destined for another catch-and-drive touchdown when Malton pulled down the maul and conceded a penalty try.

The conversion was a formality and was followed shortly after by a penalty to make it 25-10.

Once restored to a full complement, Malton struck back to keep the large following interested.

Good driving from the pack took them to the Yarnbury line for Coe to get the touchdown. Ian Cooke goaled and they were back in the game. Yarnbury were far from finished, though, and another kick to the corner from Paterson led to a third catch-and-drive try to extend the lead.

With substitute Creber beginning to direct operations from fly-half, Malton lifted the pace – and Yarnbury struggled to deal with it as several players littered the pitch with cramp and fatigue.

Again Malton took a quick tap penalty and swift handling got the ball to Newitt, who again outstripped the defence for his third try. Deep into injury time, Malt struck again from a similar effort and Newitt got his fourth of the afternoon.

Malton: S Zondo, I Cooke, J Heggie, R Armitage, T Newitt, S Moabi, P Angus, N Salisbury, J Thornton, R Featherstone, J Rounthwaite, S Emms, B Woodhouse, T Lowry, A Coe. Subs (used): J Lumley, C Creber.