MALVERN Rugby Club provided a cheque for £1,000 towards the Tsunami appeal but then showed no such charity to Aston Old Edwardians in a 54-3 thrashing.

The Spring Lane side were keen to exact revenge against an under-strength but plucky Aston who took a point from Malvern in the reverse Midlands West Two fixture.

On an afternoon which got wetter and muddier, the conditions were not going to be the best for an open game of rugby.

It was a day for the forwards to show off their skills and the Malvern pack did not disappoint the crowd.

After conceding a first-minute penalty, they quickly set about their business, pushing Aston back at the first scrum after Nick Major had made a sortie into away territory.

Scrum-half Julien Davies, at his feisty best at the base of the scrum, made some telling breaks and fly-half Dave King's grubber kick put Malvern deep into the Aston half.

Malvern equalised with an Andy Longley penalty and the town started to run the ball, despite the greasy conditions.

After a move involving five players, Mark Eastwood made a break, linking up with King who fed Nigel Richardson for his first try in Malvern colours.

Longley bagged the extra two points and Malvern were on their way, adding a penalty to the first-half total.

After the break, having softened up the Aston forward effort, the Malvern pack decided to embark on practising their driving and rolling mauls.

First, they sucked in the defence to allow the ball to be spun to Major for a converted try before putting in a succession of controlled drives.

It reaped four tries in a 15-minute spell, including a debut score for Phil Rawle.

Although the Aston players never gave up, the Malvern juggernaut was just too powerful.

The home forwards decided to open up play for the last two scores with a moment of wizardry from prop Shaun Lancett putting him in for a try worthy of a centre.

Then hooker Alex Wenden completed the day's proceedings with another catch and drive move.

Malvern's points difference was assisted greatly by the score which also showed a new ruthless streak that has sometimes been lacking.

Lancett said: "It's all too easy to open up a bit of a lead then sit back on your laurels.

"However, we know that this league is going to go to the wire, as illustrated by Burton dropping a point.

"We need to pile on the points, which could make all the difference at the end of the season, whether for winners' spot or ground advantage at play-off stage."