North One East: Bradford & Bingley 17 Malton & Norton 29

IT proved to be an afternoon of what ifs for Bradford & Bingley.

North One East visitors Malton & Norton were the better side overall on another day when both sides prospered more against the wind.

They led 17-7 at half-time into the elements, but only won the second half 12-10 with the Bees looking likely winners at one stage as their fitness seemed to be telling.

Malton & Norton were only 22-17 ahead after 74 minutes when the hosts were attacking in front of the clubhouse verandah when there was a big roar from the home fans but full back Adam Sutcliffe had a try ruled out for a foot in touch a fraction before touching down.

Then, after three-try No 8 Tom Cummins was sin-binned five minutes later for a no-arms tackle, the Bees were running the ball out of defence from an optimistic Malton & Norton shot at goal when a move broke down and twin-towns skipper Zweli Sodladla ran in the winning try.

The home side recalled Phil Greaves at fly half, with the veteran explaining: "Last week against Huddersfield YMCA there was a lack of direction and they wanted me to come back and play at No 10.

"Maybe we should have gone through nine and ten more in the first half against Malton & Norton rather than picking up at No 8, but we have some young lads who are still learning the game.

"The message at half-time was to keep things tight and work the ball upfield – play ten-man rugby, and we played better in the second half. We seemed fitter than them in the second half."

Malton & Norton fly half Luke Raduwa was influential in the opening ten minutes, making the game's first break, and then linking two minutes later after some forward drives as centre Tom Foan scored the first try.

Sodladla added the conversion and although the visitors showed the better of the early continuity, the Bees hit back.

Scrum half Dan Jeffrey almost broke through, the Bees won a penalty but messed up the line-out, and Cummins knocked on when on the crash ball.

However, he made no mistake two minutes later, in the 23rd minute, after a break by flanker Manny Riaz.

Sutcliffe's conversion made it 7-7 but parity did not last long as Malton & Norton went ahead in the 25th minute via prop Rob Featherstone after good work down the left.

Sodladla's conversion attempt died in the wind, and he missed his next attempt as well eight minutes later after Foan capped a superb team score.

Malton & Norton stayed out on the pitch at half-time, whereas Bradford & Bingley headed for the changing rooms, and it was the home side who suffered the first blow of the second half when skipper Tom Booth was helped off with a twisted right ankle three minutes in.

The visitors then carved out another fine try in the 42nd minute as Foan bagged his hat-trick.

The Bees then sparked into life, led by centre Inoke Finau, with Cummins getting his second try in the 49th minute.

His third followed 19 minutes later as the hosts cranked up the pressure and were only trailing by five points at 22-17.

Malton & Norton prop Nick Salisbury was sin-binned in the 73rd minute after a third collapsed scrum, and then came that narrow Bees miss in the right-hand corner before Cummins was sin-binned a minute before time.

Sodladla's ambitious penalty attempt on time was attempted with the intention of soaking up some time and kicking the ball dead to force a 22-metre drop out, but Sutcliffe ran the ball upfield with purpose until the ball was pinched one phase later, giving Sodladla the chance to score the clinching try.

The full back was celebrating before he went over, and centre Nick Rangiuira added the conversion to stretch the final margin to 12 points as they backed up their thumping victory over Penrith.