With four games remaining Malton and Norton have a four-point cushion at the head of Yorkshire One after their 37-20 win at home to Dinnington.

Fly half Dean Lax put Dinnington ahead with a penalty when Malton were caught offside.

Straight from the restart the visitors struck again. Working their way into the Malton 22 metre area a well executed move between the centres put centre Lee Paxman into a gaping hole to touch down under the posts. Lax converted.

A break from midfield by James McKay was carried on to the Dinnington line where Carl Muscroft was on hand to take the final pass to open the Malton account.

Dinnington soon came back when another well executed move set up flanker Russ Winters for his side's second try, which Lax converted.

Malton responded quickly when Ian Cooke converted a penalty for a Dinnington infringement.

More good play from both forwards and backs took play to the visitors' line through a series of drives before releasing the ball to the backs for Ryan Lonsdale to go over for Cooke to convert and bring his side within two points.

Cooke and Lax exchanged further penalties before the break to give Dinnington a 20-18 lead.

In the second half Malton's fitness began to have an effect and half backs Jon Newsome and Chris Creber were controlling affairs behind the pack.

McKay burst away with 40 metres to go to the line. Brushing off a couple of would-be tacklers on the way he sold a dummy to the last defender in the in-goal area before touching down to put Malton in front.

Cooke converted and the spirit seemed to drain from the visitors.

A good move from a set scrummage close to the Dinnington line opened a gaping hole for Cooke to storm over between the posts and convert his own score.

The same player was unfortunate not to have scored moments earlier when the final pass to him was marginally forward.

Creber was now using the touchlines to find territorial position and the visitors were on the back foot for long periods.

A further score looked certain and a Cooke penalty attempt rebounded in to play from a post and Andy Mitchell was inches away from taking the rebound and adding to his side's tally.

Cooke went over for another try which he himself converted to give him 22 points in the game and boost his season's tally to 219.

Updated: 11:54 Monday, February 23, 2004