MALVERN Rugby Club put in a superb performance to win 44-16 at Hinckley and secure the play-off place in Midlands Two (West).

The Spring Lane side dominated the match and, barring mathematical miracles, will finish second to face their Midlands Two (East) counterparts.

Winning the title outright is still a possibility although leaders Burton host bottom side Nuneaton Old Edwardians, while Malvern entertain Stoke.

Director of rugby, David Robins, was delighted with his side. He said: "The lads knew it was down to them, and they responded with an awesome display.

"Our biggest crowd of supporters to an away game for some years helped tremendously to lift the team and they outplayed Hinckley in every department."

Malvern picked hosts Hinckley apart at the seams and even the setback of two penalties in the first five minutes did not disrupt their resolve.

Steve Ott, replacing Andy Longley at full-back, took the ball out of defence, Dave King and Mark Hynes carried it on and Mark Eastwood powered in for a seventh-minute try. Ott converted.

From the first set-piece, the determination of the Malvern front five was evident. Skipper Matt Richardson, hooker Alex Wenden and the rampaging Shaun Lancett instilled uncertainty in their opposite numbers, while Chris Smith and Aidan Ruddock gave excellent catching displays in the line-outs.

Having lost heavily to Hinckley at Spring Lane, the Malvern underdogs hit back, with flankers Nigel Richardson and Nick Smith on to any Hinckley move like lightning.

Ott defied a strong cross-wind for a tenth-minute penalty and three minutes later Malvern stole the ball and Eastwood's cleverly angled run set up Tom Green for a converted score.

Hinckley responded to narrow the gap to six points, but Malvern stuck relentlessly to the task.

Busy scrum-half Julien Davies drove his forwards on and was equally sharp in the tackle and King, targeted by Hinckley as the danger man, proved as elusive as ever.

Ott's 37th-minute penalty saw Malvern go into the second-half with a nine-point lead and slope advantage.

To hammer home that advantage, Malvern came steaming out of the blocks, drove Hinckley back and forced a penalty for Ott to increase the lead.

Ten minutes later, Malvern's pack drove to the Hinckley line and Fleming scored, Ott converting.

Eastwood then barged through the middle to score his second try and an easy two points for Ott.

Hinckley heads were down but their captain rallied them for a second try.

King capped a tremendous display with a spectacular finish under the posts.