AN early festive feast delighted the Gannock faithful.

Not only did many enjoy an excellent pre-match Christmas lunch, they were also treated to champagne rugby as Malton & Norton RUFC ran out convincing 59-0 winners over Pontefract in the Yorkshire Shield quarter-final.

Malton scored nine tries without reply though Pontefract stuck to the task throughout and did not allow their heads to drop.

The opening 20 minutes were very even with neither side appearing to have the upper hand. However, after that initial bout of sparring Malton clicked up a gear.

The first piece of co-ordinated play took Malton deep into Pontefract territory.

A quick tap penalty set up a maul and gave the Malton pack the opportunity to drive forward with Sean Emms credited with the touchdown.

Zwelakhe Sodladla, whose kicking was superb throughout, added the extras. Victory was now never in doubt.

Five minutes later good handling and interchanging of passes along the touchline between hooker Jim Thornton and flanker Ali Coe, supported by second row Jamie Rounthwaite, set him up for a try from a maul. Sodladla obliged with a magnificent kick.

Malton were in command but for a spell too many balls were being spilled and basic errors committed.

On the half-hour another piece of sparkling rugby produced the third try.

Again it was set up by the pack with a series of controlled drives before the ball was swiftly and crisply passed through several pairs of hands to give centre Vusumzi Dyantjies a well deserved try, converted by the reliable Sodladla.

Man of the match, Australian number eight Josh Heggie, crashed over the line but was unable to ground the ball and increase the lead beyond 21-0 by half-time.

The second half saw a change in attitude from Malton and with it some breathtaking rugby.

A break from defence by centre Ian Cooke made good ground before substitute flanker George Harrison took over.

With the line in sight the pocket battleship raced over for his first of three tries, Sodladla converting.

Two minutes later Malton again ran the ball from defence with Sodladla, Dyantjies, Cooke and wing Tom Newitt all exchanging passes to put Harrison into the clear to record his second try. Sodladla was again accurate.

Slick handling by Malton bamboozled the visitors and the supporting man was again Harrison who raced fully 30 metres to get his third try.

There was little Pontefract could do to stem the tide and Malton rounded off another piece of sublime rugby with a try for Sodladla which the scrum-half converted for a 47-0 lead.

A slight lull followed for 15 minutes until Ali Coe broke from the back of a scrum on his own line and took play deep into Pontefract territory.

He linked with full back Sizwe Zondo, who outstripped the defence for his side’s eighth try.

Coe was again heavily involved in the final score. Miraculously keeping the ball in play from a Pontefract 22 metre drop-out, he produced a brilliant off-load to Sodladla who showed a clean pair of heels to cross and add the extras for a runaway triumph and a semi-final at Bridlington - conquerors of Scarborough - in the new year.

Malt’s next game is against Heath at The Gannock on January 3.

- There was no semi-final reward for York RUFC after they were pipped 24-17 at Bradford Salem in the Shield quarter-final.