Malton and Norton put last week's Powergen Vase exit behind them with a crucial 25-19 win at Ilkley.

The victory keeps them in third place in Yorkshire Two with a game in hand on their promotion rivals.

Malton attacked from the kick-off with some enterprising rugby on a greasy surface and took the lead with an Ian Cooke penalty after five minutes.

It was cancelled out within a minute when Ilkley spread the ball wide to speedy right wing Nulty who scorched over to give his side the lead.

Good forward play by Malton's James McKay and Carl Rushworth stretched Ilkley in defence and a dropped pass gave Neil Gilbertson the opportunity to hack through and follow up to win the race for the touchdown. Cooke added the conversion.

Play continued to see-saw from end-to-end with both sides trying to play an open game and it was Ilkley's turn next to add to the scoreboard when from a maul close to the Malton line the visitors' were adjudged to have killed the ball and flanker Andy Mitchell was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes. Home skipper Cadman converted the penalty to reduce the deficit.

Despite being a man short for a spell, Malton hit straight back from a purple patch of forward play. Good ruck ball was produced and quickly transferred to inside centre Andy Whalley, who had an outstanding game throughout, and he burst through to increase the lead. Cooke converted.

Ilkley again reduced the gap when a prop forward burst away from a maul near the Malton line to crash over. Shortly afterwards Cadman reduced the lead to one point with a well struck penalty.

Malton were producing some very good spells of rugby and always looked dangerous when in possession. Ian Cooke, gaining possession near to the right touchline and 20 metres out, went on a weaving run to go over.

With 22 points in the bag the visitors should have felt safe. Ilkley, however, had other ideas and another Cadman penalty brought his side to within three points and a half-time score of 22-19 in favour of Malton.

The only score of the second period was another Cooke penalty to Malton, despite both sides still trying to play open rugby and the game being played at a very quick pace.

Credit for the lack of scoring should go to both defences. David Webster and Will Barber both put in try-saving tackles for Malton and Ilkley were saved on a couple of occasions by final forward passes.

Malton's vice-captain Jon Newsome was at his effervescent best, cajoling his comrades on throughout and the back row of David Cooke, McKay and Mitchell stamped their authority all over the park.

Tom Bayston scored two tries and Toby Pemberton kicked two penalties and a drop goal as Selby beat Leeds Tykes Under-21s 19-17.

Updated: 12:48 Monday, January 27, 2003