SOMETIMES in sport there are barriers that need to be overcome both physically and psychologically, a superb team performance on Saturday saw the Spring Lane side dominate on both fronts.

HINCKLEY 16PTS, MALVERN 44PTS

Having been written off by the Leicestershire press as also-rans for this match that decided the play-off place, Malvern systematically picked the home side apart at the seams.

Even the setback of two penalties in the first five minutes, awarded to Hinckley by a sometimes over-zealous referee, did not disrupt the Malvern team's collective resolve.

Steve Ott, replacing the unavailable Longley at full-back, fielded the ball and took it out of defence, King and Hynes carried it on and it was slipped to Mark Eastwood to power in for a 7th minute try which visibly stunned the normally vocal home crowd. Ott converted, Malvern were ahead and suddenly all the noise was coming from the large numbers of travelling supporters from Worcestershire.

From the first set-pieces the determination of the Malvern front five was evident, skipper Matt Richardson, hooker Alex Wenden and the rampaging Shaun Lancett instilling uncertainty in their opposite numbers and Chris Smith and Aidan Ruddock giving excellent catching displays in the line-outs plus the 'grunt' needed in the scrums.

Having lost heavily to Hinckley at Spring Lane, the Malvern underdogs bit back from the early stages. Flankers Nigel Richardson and Nick Smith were on to any Hinckley move like lightning, whilst the slimmed-down James Hynes still had plenty of bulk to offer as he carried the ball on repeatedly, often taking two or three defenders with him.

Ott, calm and focussed, defied the strong cross-wind with a 10th minute penalty and three minutes later the Malvern foragers stole a home ball at the breakdown, Eastwood again stunned the defence with a cleverly angled run and Tom Green was on hand to score, setting up the extra two for the full-back.

Hinckley came back at Malvern, a well-worked try after a couple of penalties allowing them to narrow the gap to six points, but Malvern stuck relentlessly to the task

Julien Davies, the busy scrum- half, drove his forwards on and was equally sharp in the tackle, Dave King, although targeted by Hinckley as Malvern's danger man, proved as elusive as ever and linked beautifully with Eastwood all afternoon. Whilst wingers Rob Young and Richard Fleming were only intermittently involved as the midfield battle ensued, they were on hand when needed to put Hinckley on the back foot.

Then there was Steve Ott, playing like a veteran, putting in the tackles, running strongly from defence and kicking tactically from hand in a performance which would not have disgraced the absent 'master', Andy Longley. Ott's 37th minute penalty saw Malvern go into the second half with a nine-point lead and a slope with them.

To hammer home the advantage, Malvern came steaming out of the blocks, drove Hinckley back and forced a penalty for Ott to increase the lead. Then, 10 minutes into the half, the Malvern pack drove to the Hinckley line, King added weight to the maul then Fleming joined the fray to score. Ott converted.

All the noise was coming from the Malvern support, the level increasing when Eastwood, giving a virtuoso performance, barrelled through the middle to score his second try for two easy points for Ott.

Hinckley heads were down, but their captain rallied them and they spread the ball wide for a second try, but they were still three full scores behind. Malvern didn't relax their grip for a moment and penned the home side back in their half before Dave King capped a tremendous display with a spectacular finish under the posts.