Malton and Norton maintained their place at the head of the York area pile with a crushing 45-12 victory in North 2 (East) over a physical but pedestrian Stockton.

The visitors showed very little technical ability and even less spirit as they were swept aside in a first half blitz, with Malton playing scintillating rugby.

Still without injured skipper and fly-half Chris Creber and also missing flanker Andy Mitchell, Malton set about their task in dramatic fashion.

Receiving the kick-off they quickly set up good possession after two phases of play for a worked move by fly-half Rob Tate to send in full-back Ian Cooke for the first score before Stockton had touched the ball. Cooke added the conversion from the touchline.

James Mckay broke from a set scrum and used his brute strength and determination to cross the line from 25 metres out.

Young centre Ryan Lonsdale, breaking the Stockton defence almost at will, was rewarded with a try before being on hand to take advantage of another Tate break to cross for his second.

Ian Cooke converted all five first half tries to give Malton a 35-0 half-time lead.

Stockton were unable to keep pace with the slick Malton side in the second half and tried to slow the game down. Malton succumbed to the tactics and paid the penalty with two yellow cards to one for Stockton.

Cooke kicked a penalty when Stockton were penalised at a ruck.

Malton made a couple of tactical changes before Lonsdale made fully forty yards from a midfield break before handing on to Mansell, who crossed for Cooke to add the extras.

Tate must now be causing severe headaches for the selectors after not putting a foot wrong in three appearances as stand in for Creber.

Flanker Craig Foote was outstanding, turning over possession on countless occasions, and Liam Vaughan was a terrier throughout.

Updated: 09:54 Monday, November 01, 2004