WHEN the visiting Old Covs pack took to the field at Spring Lane their obvious weight advantage may have given cause for concern amongst some home supporters.

MALVERN 41pts, OLD COVENTRIANS 5pts

Malvern just played their normal game and, having charged down an attempted kick off return and then forced a line-out, put on pressure through Thomas and Longley to gain a further throw in on the five-metre line. The catch and drive was put together by the controlled pack and skipper Matt Richardson opened the scoring in the third minute.

The first scrum of the match drew a sharp intake of breath from the sizeable crowd as the lighter Malvern tight eight shoved the visitors back off their own ball, the back row immediately getting into the OCs midfield to disrupt and turn the ball over on many occasions during the match.

In the ninth minute Malvern took another scrum and standoff Dave King wrong-footed the visiting defence with just a shrug of the shoulders, to scythe through and score under the posts for Longley's conversion.

The magnificent Malvern pack continued to stifle any opposition moves, Alex Thomas having another fine game. Yet another product of the King's School rugby factory, the flanker and his two comrades-in-arms Tom Davies and Nick Smith were on the rampage all afternoon, causing confusion in the OCs defence and forcing them into hasty clearances to surrender advantage to the men from Spring Lane.

Even when the visiting fullback went on a long solo run, he was shepherded across the field and out of harm's way by the tenacious chase given by Longley. In the 25th minute centre Steve Ott made a break, the chip ahead was charged down and winger Richard Fleming was on hand to collect and stroll through to set up Longley for another two points.

Malvern relaxed a bit for 10 minutes or so and Coventrians fought back, but were still kept well contained by the pack's stranglehold.

Richardson and Lancett were the solid cornerstones and Alex Wenden, in only his second senior match, looked an accomplished hooker beyond his years. John Drage and Aidan Ruddock in the engine room also took line-out ball at will to give the Malvern front five a look of invincibility. With Julien Davis out-busying his opposing scrum half and driving the pack on, playmaker King was repeatedly presented with time and several options to present to his backs. Switching Ott and Dan Cullen in the centre improved the running angles and both had good games.

Even when Thomas left the field for an enforced 10-minute break, the seven-man pack held up the heavier visiting eight and King and Longley kept play firmly in the OC's half until the break.

The Coventrian scrum half was binned three minutes into the second period, but right winger McConville weaved through following a tapped penalty to run in the visitors' only score of the day.

Malvern replied almost immediately to this insult, driving back the OCs pack once again. Number eight Tom Davies, a whirlwind of activity all day, made a lot of ground and the visiting defence went over the top in a panic attempt to stop the onward Malvern march. Longley slotted over the resultant penalty and Malvern were firmly back in the driving seat.

Malvern's fitness was much in evidence as the tiring OCs began to be affected by injuries. As Malvern's pack once more drove Coventrians back, Davies switched the ball to King on the short side for the standoff's second try, Longley converted.

In the last quarter there was a flare up after the OCs number eight was sent off and as some of the players tried to exact their own form of justice, Nick Smith was unfortunate enough to be red-carded.

The young open side had put in another massive performance and may well have been harshly treated, but the game went on with Malvern's dominance increasing almost by the minute.

Richard Fleming was caught short of the try line, but Malvern won a scrum five metres out, the pack drove on and Julien Davis nipped over to score and Longley converted with five minutes left.

The match was rounded off by Rob Young's first try since returning from his record-breaking year in the USA as Malvern posted another warning to the rest of the league.