LONGTON came to Spring Lane on Saturday for this Powergen Cup Midland qualifying tie as the clear favourites.

MALVERN 18pts, LONGTON 20 pts

The Potteries side had played in National league Three last year and had run five tries in against Liverpool St Helens in a pre-season warm-up game. In contrast Malvern, fielding five debutants in the squad, had only had the Droitwich 10s Tournament as match practice.

When the whistle went to signal the start of the new campaign, it was Malvern who looked the class outfit. Attacking from the off, they took Longton by surprise with the speed and ferocity of their play.

Forcing a scrum, the Malvern pack stayed solid and were more than a match for the much-vaunted Longton eight all afternoon. Malvern won a second-minute penalty and Longley opened the scorebook for the season.

Malvern were moving the ball around, stand-off Dave King, literally just off the boat, bringing centres Steve Ott and Gareth Richards into play and the back row making inroads with Jim Hynes setting up good ball, whilst flankers Alex Thomas and Jamie Anderson were ferocious in the tackle.

Longton's backs broke a couple of times to show that there was danger lurking, but excellent defence stifled the danger. Anderson went on the burst and won a penalty, Longley joined the line and Malvern were 10 points to the good as the still-youthful King's School teacher put over the conversion.

Malvern continued to dominate, well led by skipper Matt Richardson whilst his fellow prop Shaun Lancett showed that he had retained his fiery passion for the game despite a season's lay-off. Young hooker Alex Wenden put in a fine performance to allay fears caused by Andy Logan's injury.

John Drage, another debutant n the second row, partnering Aidan Ruddock, showed his true potential with a solid performance. Malvern's pack continued to harry the Staffordshire side, setting up good ball for the feisty Julien Davies and their efforts enabled space to be created for Longley to pop over a dropped goal in the 36th minute.

Two minutes later, King broke, Richard Fleming made ground on the right wing and Ruddock, centre turned lock, was on hand to go over in the corner. Longton finally got on the scoreboard with a Scott Rawlings penalty on the stroke of halftime.

Longton had obviously been stung by Malvern's impertinence in taking an 18-3 halftime lead and came out, after a roasting from their coach, with all guns blazing. Gathering from the kick-off, the ball was moved in to the centre for Rawlings to carve through to score. Now fired up, Longton took the play to Malvern and camped in their half for the next 15 minutes. They won a 5-metre scrum and got enough of a nudge to put the Malvern pack on the back foot for the first time in the game and scrum half James Gabriel went over from close range.

Malvern countered and began to test Longton again, but, cruelly, a lobbed pass was intercepted by Gabriel, who couldn't be caught for the equalising try, Tony Wheat's conversion giving the visitors a two-point lead.

Malvern made some changes, losing the bulk of Jim Hynes, whilst Tom Green came on for Fleming and Steve Cooper replaced Lancett. Malvern fought back in the last quarter, Anderson giving way to a revitalised Phil Snare.

Longton started to lose discipline as Malvern prodded and probed at the defence, whilst Longley was waiting in the pocket for any chance at a drop goal attempt. Sadly for Malvern, time ran out, much to the relief of the Longton support.

David Robins, Malvern Director of Rugby, was upbeat despite the cup exit. Robins said: "If we show today's commitment for the rest of the season then we should be well in contention to meet our stated aim of promotion to Midlands One.

"Our pack was immense today, the tackling ferocious and the discipline exemplary. We looked like the higher league team for the first 40 minutes against a team whose stated aim is to get back to National League status at the first attempt. We now have the problem of who to select from a squad of highly determined and skilful players.

"This is a tribute to the coaching the squad have received over the summer. Liam Middleton has brought so much to the table in joining Paul Essenhigh and Gareth Richards and the players have all paid tribute to this.

"We now go to Leamington on Saturday to open our league campaign on the first step back to Midlands One."