Malton & Norton 25, West Park Bramhope 12

DESPITE having the balance of play West Park Bramhope's inability to break down a tight defence proved to be their downfall.

The home side, who impressed in their defeat at Park in October, were on the scoreboard early when a high tackle was punished with a well-taken penalty goal.

With both full-backs in the blood bin Craig Hardy made a charge upfield but two deliberate knocks down by Malton went unpunished.

Park were creating the better chances and a forward drive saw Tim Corrigan held up over the line and a sweeping three-quarter move saw Jason Holmes bundled into touch in the corner.

Richard Monkhouse knocked on when joining the line and the home side broke away and kicked their second penalty goal.

The Malton fly-half was pulling the strings and his quick thinking caught out Park right on half-time for the umpteenth time this season.

Park turned their backs when a penalty was awarded and a quick tap led to the home No 8 breaking away to put the winger over for a converted try to make it 13-0 at the break.

Park needed a big start to the second-half but Malton's pack drove upfield and scored in the corner.

With the match just about lost the visitors had their best spell. Mark Storey took three strikes against the head as Park pounded the home line which led to the sin-binning of the Malton flanker.

From a close in scrum Mark Weston and Glen Kilvington put Jason Holmes over in the corner. Park came again as Hardy, Wilyman and Chadwick created a great position that was lost through a needless penalty.

The home side suddenly attacked from defence and clever inter-passing led to a try under the posts. Not to be outdone Park had the last word as Matt Ingram's pass was collected at pace by Jason Whitehead and the centre side-stepped his way over and Matt Stephens converted.

Park still remain favourites for promotion but a mouth-watering clash against league leaders Keighley at the Sycamores on March 1 (2.15pm) could go a long way to deciding their fate.