ALTHOUGH the title was won a few weeks ago, Malton and Norton were made to fight all the way by mid-table side Wheatley Hills in a 15-19 win.

With veteran lock forward Tim Casey leading the side out in his final 1st XV game Malton opened brightly and looked eager to get the scoring under way. One break from defence by Neil Gilbertson could well have been the trigger needed if the support play had been a little quicker to the breakdown. Wheatley had a predictable if basic game-plan of kicking all possession gained for field position. In fly half Ashley Hanson they had just the man for the job as Malton were constantly driven back by the power of his boot. It was his boot which gave his side a nine-point lead as Malton were penalised three times for infringements at the breakdown.

Ian Cooke was the man to break the ice. A good break from fly half Chris Creber was carried on by David Webster for Cooke to cross in the corner. Before this, Malton were denied a try when they were held up over the line and again when full back Jason Simpson just missed a pass to go over under the posts.

From the restart, Wheatley immediately restored their lead when Hanson dropped a goal from a set scrummage.

Malton raised the pace for the second half and soon levelled the scores when No.8 forward James McKay broke from a set scrum on the Wheatley 22 metre line. With a customary burst he shattered the defence to score wide out. A magnificent conversion from the touch line by Cooke levelled the scores.

Malton tails were now up and the screw was slowly turning. Simpson was hungry for the ball and produced a magical piece of running to cross for Malton's third try.

Cooke's conversion was a formality. Wheatley were still not finished and ensured that Malton would not have it all their own way with a penalty to bring them within four points with five minutes to play.

But it was Malton who finished the stronger and gained two points to maintain their seven point lead and round off another memorable league campaign.

All efforts will now be concentrated on Wednesday's Yokshire Shield tie at home to York RI.

Updated: 11:27 Monday, April 19, 2004