Malton & Norton RUFC kicked off their Yorkshire One campaign with a thrilling 24-18 win against Ilkley at the Gannock.

While the Malton threequarters held sway behind the pack, the well-drilled Ilkley forwards reigned supreme in a close game.

Malton drew first blood when Ilkley were penalised for holding onto the ball after a tackle, centre Teei Piawi sending the ball soaring between the posts from 50 metres out.

The home side were looking dangerous whenever they had the ball but suffered a set back when skipper and full back Ian Cooke was forced to leave the field with an injured knee However, the blow was softened after 20 minutes when hooker Carl Muscroft stole the ball at a maul just inside his own half before feeding left wing Henry Newitt who raced over from 50 metres.

Malton’s tails were up now and more good attacking play by centre Tony Maka and right wing Tom Newitt caught Ilkley offside and Piawi booted Malt further ahead.

Ilkley could not be written off and, when Henry Newitt was sin-binned for a deliberate knock on, took full advantage of the extra man. On the half hour, visiting right winger Rich Greenfield to get the touch down and narrow the gap. Ilkley further reduced the arrears with a Peter Shanks penalty and Malton went into the break with a tenuous 11-8 lead.

The visitors were first out of the blocks in the second period when their scrum half broke free along the touchline before passing to Greenfield who touched down for the second time to give his side the lead.

The first 20 minutes of the seconds half were a problem for Malton but the Malton defence held firm and after a series of penalties close to the Ilkley line failed to produce a try Piawi eventually stepped up to take a further three points and regain the lead by a point.

A forceful break by Maka caused mayhem in the Ilkley ranks and when the ball was fed left through several pairs of hands it was left to prop forward Adam Turnbull to cross and for Piawi to extend the lead to eight points.

Despite still suffering at scrums and line outs, Malton were holding the upper hand and with two minutes left Ilkley were penalised for handling the ball in a ruck and again Piawi converted tomake the game safe.

There was still time for Ilkley to progress towards the Malton line to set up a rolling maul for No 8 Hamish Pratt to touchdown.

Although there is still a lot of work to do this was a good performance from Malton & Norton, particularly in defence, and with one or two squad members to return the signs are good. Mark Bradshaw and George Harrison have added to the depth of back row talent while the Newitt brothers, Henry and Tom, and Tony Maka were the stand-out threequarters. Newcomer Tom Gravell, on as a substitute for Cooke, gave a solid performance.

Malton & Norton: I Cooke (T Gravell 17), H Newitt, T Maka, T Piawi, T Newitt, C Creber, T Collard, P Dobson, C Muscroft, N Salisbury (A Turnbull 40), D Foster, R Webster, J Rounthwaite (S Triffitt 50), G Harrison, M Bradshaw.