We came close with Man of the Match Sam Miller twice held up over the line. However, a mixture of hard tackling from the visitors and some wayward passes meant we had to wait until the very last minute to get a third try which was difficult to see as darkness descended.
Once again the coaches were forced into changes because of injuries and unavailability and suffered a blow when line-out expert John Bunter cried off with illness just before the game. In came 17 year old Jake Linighan for his full debut and the youngster went on to have a fine game.
Malton and Norton are down in the relegation zone and arrived looking to give it a good go against the league leaders. They strarted brightly forcing after five minutes with South African full back Xavi Payi just short with his effort from just inside his own half.
We then set up camp in the Malton half but scorned several chances - Rob Thorn dropping a cross kick from Gavin Painter, and then Liam Checksfield sending in out a high and wayward pass as the backs created a two man overlap.
Malton were constantly infringing at the breakdown and eventually referee Matt Dunn's patience wore thin with prop Liam Vaughan sin-binned.
We seized the opportunity and when Checksfield was hauled down as he went for a gap Rob Thorn was in support to power his way towards the line. The ball was quickly moved right where Zac Southern came into the line to accept a well tiumed pass from Peter Youll to go in at the right corner.
Gavin Painter's conversion was wide, but he had better luck from the other side of the pitch three minutes later.
Brother Ryan was the first to react when we were awarded a penalty on the visiting 22 and Rob Thorn was in support of his quick break to go in at the corner.
With the deadlock finally broken the expectation at half time was that we might go on to build on the 12-0 lead.
Unfortunately, it was not to be. The play was mainly in the visitor's half but we struggled to get over the line, and when we did Referee Dunn was unable to see clearly enough through a melee of bodies to make an award.
Gavin Painter did add a penalty shortly after the restart but the crowd had to wait for another 38 minutes to see the next score as the light faded.
We forced a series of penalties close to the line and once again the referee lost patience the number of infringements. He yellow carded hooker Jim Thornton whose reaction as he trooped off turned the colour of the card being waived to red
The forwards took advantage of the numerical advantage in the pack with Sam Miller breaking from the base of the scrum, and he was able to feed replacement back row Carl Miller who powered his way over the line.
Painter's narrow miss with his conversion was the last act of the game.
West: Zac Southern, Rob Thorn, Liam Checksfield, Peter Youll, Will Hilditch, Gavin Painter, Ryan Painter, Adam Coates, Andrew Rollins, Tim Blades, Jake Linighan, , Joe Rafferty, Lee Maddison, Dan Boatman (captain), Sam Miller
Rep;s (all used): Ross Wood, Carl Miller, Greg Edwards.
Tries: Southern, Thorn, C Miller.
Cons: G Painter (1)
Pens: G Painter (1)
Malton and Norton: Xavi Payi, Rob Armitage, Nick Rangiuira, Tom Foan, Tom Clark, Paul Angus, Luke Raduva, Liam Vaughan, Jim Thornton, Nick Salisbury, Sean Emms, John Lumley, Tom Lowry, Sam Triffitt (Capt), Ali Fothergill.
Reps (all used): Simon Thompson, James Bulmer, Harry Coulson.
Yellow: Vaughan, Thornton (2).
Referee: Matt Dunn (Durham Society)