Malton and Norton drew level on points with leaders Pontefract at the top of Yorkshire One following a 49-7 hammering of Wheatley Hills.

It may have been dark, wet and windy, but some of Malton's play in such dreadful conditions brightened up the afternoon and the victory enabled them to take advantage of Pontefract's draw at Selby, though Pontefract stay ahead on points difference.

Malton opened as they meant to continue, playing with pace in possession and defending with steel, while Wheatley conceded penalty after penalty.

Phil Ryan and Liam Vaughan were prominent in many of Malton's driving runs and, with their forward colleagues eager to carry on the good work, made yards of ground despite playing into the teeth of the gale.

A score had to come and Ian Cooke obliged with a well-struck penalty.

Almost immediately Malton were on the offensive again. A clever kick into the corner was followed up by Cooke, who just managed to get the touch down ahead of a desperate defender.

Wheatley then began to fall apart and exhibited some of the unnecessary side of the game. Malton kept their cool and answered with rugby of a high standard.

Live-wire full-back Jason Simpson was next on the score sheet. Making one of his trade mark incursions into the threequarter line, he ran in unopposed beneath the posts for Cooke to convert.

The home back row of David Cooke, Andy Mitchell and James McKay were proving a handful for the visitors and got their own reward when McKay was next to cross to give his side a 20-point interval advantage.

With the gale at their backs, Malton spent most of the second period in the visitors' half, Chris Creber sensibly using his boot to gain territorial advantage before releasing his men to play the dazzling rugby.

Some of the handling was superb in these conditions as Malton gained a stranglehold on the game. Ian Cooke scored two further tries as Malton ran rampant and others were added by McKay, Will Barber, who was excellent throughout, and Mitchell. Cooke also added two conversions.

Malton's much talked-about lightweight pack were the key to this victory. Never bowing to heavier opponents, they gained the dominance the threequarters needed to do their stuff. What they lack in size the likes of Steve Piercy and Carl Muscroft make up for with determination and grit.

The large group of former players present could only have marvelled at the rugby currently being played at The Gannock.

Updated: 12:19 Monday, December 01, 2003