THERE are rugby games in a season, usually away and on heavy pitches, where a result just has to be ground out through sheer doggedness.

STOKE 0, MALVERN RFC 26pts

Table-toppers Malvern had such a day at Stoke on Saturday in Midlands Two West, the clay-based pitch becoming more like treacle as the game progressed.

The Potters were known to play a forward-dominated, mauling game, which in previous years could well have seen Malvern struggle. Not nowadays however, the technical proficiency of the pack has seen them repel opposition game after game.

In the second minute, a Stoke maul was brought to a pre-emptory halt, much to the disbelief of the home supporters. Malvern's pack proceeded to drive Stoke's pack backwards off their own ball in the set scrums, much to the delight of the travelling faithful who had made the long journey up the M6.

Mark Eastwood made a typical bulldozing run in the seventh minute but unfortunately collected a dead leg in the process and left the field, Richard Fleming coming on to the wing and Steve Ott moving to centre.

Malvern won a scrum, Mark Wenden hooked the ball assuredly and Julien Davies fed Dave King, who ghosted through a bemused Stoke defence to score. Andy Longley put over the conversion and Malvern were off the mark.

Stoke tried to put pressure on Malvern for a 10-minute spell, but the forwards held firm, props Shaun Lancett and skipper Matt Richardson firm as mighty oak trees, locks John Drage and Aidan Ruddock in the thick of things, whilst flankers Nick Smith and Alex Thomas gave the Stoke midfield and back row a torrid afternoon.

Behind all of these was the awesome power of Malvern's 'man mountain' James Hynes, his athleticism growing with every game and his sheer weight helping to drive Malvern forward. As Stoke's efforts petered out, Malvern moved up a gear and winger Rob Young went on the charge, only to be brought down short of the line.

Stoke didn't let him up, the penalty preceded a flowing three-quarter movement and Young exacted revenge by storming in to score. Longley's conversion hit the post, but Malvern were well in command as the game moved towards half-time, the forwards driving Stoke back in the scrum a good half-dozen more times.

The second half opened in similar vein, with Fleming, so difficult to stop, going on a mazy run. Longley continued to give a superb display of kicking from hand, pushing Stoke back into their own half, whilst Nick Major proved to be as elusive as an eel, wriggling through tackles. The forwards, led by Lancett, even by his standards having a colossal game, drove towards the line, Davies whipped the ball out and it went quickly along the line for Steve Ott to score and Longley to put Malvern three scores ahead.

Drage made way for Vince Hill and the versatile Ruddock was replaced by Jamie Anderson, back from his latest shoulder mishap. Malvern continued to dominate, but didn't really get out of second gear for long periods and still stayed well in command. With 10 minutes left, Anderson played out a cameo involving a battering 25 metre run, taking four Stoke players with him. Malvern got close to the line and recycled the ball, sucking in the defence until the ball was moved out to Major, who danced in for a try and Longley's conversion.

Stoke rallied a little in the last minutes, but Malvern held them off and it was two more points and an increased points difference.

Skipper Matt Richardson was delighted at the shut-out and said: "It was good that we 'nilled' them, it puts us in the right frame of mind for the next two games, perhaps the biggest two weeks of the season for us."