HUDDERSFIELD YMCA has never been a happy hunting ground for Malton & Norton but a tremendous fightback saw them bring home the full five points with a 28-22 victory.

Huddersfield led 17-0 before the break but Malt struck back and went on to make it back-to-back North One East wins after their opening-day defeat.

Said spokesman Bill Laidler: “Coach Chris Creber’s half-time talk was forceful and to the point. Malton looked a different side (in the second half) as they tore into the tiring home team.”

The clash opened at a furious pace with both sides attempting to spread the ball.

The hosts opened the scoring with a penalty after Malton entered a ruck from the wrong angle.

Huddersfield were shading possession and causing problems. Malt's defence held firm until flanker Andy Mitchell was sin-binned for collapsing a maul close to the line.

The penalty was kicked to the corner and they set up a series of mauls to suck in the defence. After the fifth pick and drive they crossed for the opening try, converted from the touchline.

Malton were just about holding their own without really threatening and fell further behind when Huddersfield again kicked a penalty to the corner and set up another catch and drive to again cross near the flag. The conversion made it 17-0.

However, restored to a full complement, they soon made amends.

In the final minute of the half, the pack drove into the heart of the home defences.

Jamie Vaughan, Mitchell and Jamie Rounthwaite were prominent in the pick and drives and Rob Featherstone got the touchdown from close range. Zweli Sodladla converted from the touchline.

After the break, Malt centre Nick Rangiuira and his opposite number were both sin-binned after a disagreement.

Undeterred, Malton, following their interval pep talk, picked up from where they had left off in the first half.

Once more the pack drove forward and the defence could not stop Featherstone getting his second try, Sodladla again improving from out wide.

The loss of fly-half Luke Raduva with a head injury meant a reshuffle for Malton with Ali Fothergill showing versatility in moving from second-row to wing - and having an immediate impact.

Malton secured scrum ball on the Huddersfield 22-metre line and number eight Ali Coe fed scrum-half Paul Angus who in turn passed on to Fothergill who crossed close to the posts to give Malton the lead.

Sodladla extended the advantage and, from the restart, they were straight back at it.

Wing Ben Tenge set off from his own half, leaving would-be tacklers in his wake. When he was eventually stopped in the home 22 his forwards, in support, again drove at the defence and hooker John Vasconcelos was credited with a deserved try to secure a bonus point.

Sodladla converted to put his side ahead by more than one score.

Huddersfield appeared to have run out of steam but were able to mount one further attack from a lineout on half-way. The ball was quickly passed across field and a missed tackle gave the overlap for a try in the corner to cut the deficit to 28-22 with five minutes left.

But Malton held firm to move up to sixth.