Another below-par display from hosts Malton and Norton allowed a poor Hartlepool outfit to take the North 2 East points after a 15-9 win.

Malton looked good for the first quarter but failed to take advantage of their territorial advantage and ball supply apart from an Ian Cooke penalty.

After this brief flurry Malton were unfortunate to lose livewire flanker Andy Mitchell with a rib injury and from thereon the fires were extinguished.

Hartlepool used their weight advantage for second row replacement Dave Carroll to get the touchdown. Cooke added his second penalty, but a shoddy pass from a Malton defensive scrum was intercepted by Rovers centre Andy Foreman who scampered over to touch down to give his side the interval lead.

Malton introduced skipper Chris Creber after a long absence and more urgency crept into their game but without Mitchell there was nobody to knock the opposition back.

Malton fullback Cooke was the biggest threat to Rovers with his individual runs but he was unable to inspire those around him despite converting his third penalty to bring his side within one point of the visitors.

Malton rallied briefly and produced some good forward play but could not break the Rovers line. Foreman took full advantage of some woeful defence to burst over for his second and match-winning try.

Injuries to key players can be blamed for some of Malton's current problems but some of those currently holding down positions must look at their own overall contributions and work harder before Saturday's Yorkshire Shield tie at Thornensians.

Updated: 10:07 Monday, November 22, 2004