MALVERN maintained third spot in the league on a dank day on the banks of the Avon against a Newbold side short on invention but full of grit.

NEWBOLD 15PTS, MALVERN 23PTS

Few sides take the points when they visit the Rugby-based side, a team which has been playing at the same level for many years. It only took until the first home line-out to see that Malvern were up against typical Warwickshire 'up the jumper' tactics, with Newbold applying the rolling maul and then kicking for territory.

Whenever the home team tried to spin the ball wide, the Malvern defence was there to stifle the backs. Longley's kicking from hand negated any yardage and Malvern started to run the ball after the initial skirmishes were over.

After a line-out Mark Eastwood broke through the middle to make ground and, with four Newbold backs offside, gained the penalty for Longley to open the scoring in the 16th minute. Newbold continued to apply their only tactic, making some inroads with driving mauls.

A breakthrough came after a Malvern penalty to touch put them into Newbold territory and the ball was taken on by Fleming and Eastwood to put Ott in for a try in the corner. With a score behind them, the Malvern players moved up a gear and put Newbold under more pressure without making another breakthrough.

Then, against the run of play, Newbold headed deep into the Malvern half just before the break and won a penalty. The outcome was predictable, line-out, catch and drive and try, the conversion putting the Avonsiders only one point behind.

At the start of the second period a revived Newbold took the game to Malvern, forcing some desperate defence which culminated in three penalties in as many minutes, the last of which was kicked to capture the lead. A period of Newbold domination followed, with some outstanding defence keeping the home side at bay. James Hynes came on to beef up the defence against the maul, Phil Rawle, a native Malvernian who had played at Stourbridge and Dudley-Kingswinford made his debut and slowly the Newbold pack started running out of steam.

Malvern began to put some moves together and Richard Fleming ran in a try on the hour and Eastwood's power took him through for a score five minutes later. Malvern's purple patch continued with ten minutes to go when Ott went clear on the wing after Malvern had continually recycled the ball to keep possession.

The home side again fought back and forced some penalties deep in Malvern territory, creating an overlap for the left winger to score, but Malvern had done enough to overcome a tough hurdle.

Skipper Matt Richardson acknowledged after the game that it wasn't a vintage performance.

He said: "If we are to keep ourselves in contention for promotion, we have to win every game and it doesn't matter if the rugby isn't so attractive. We must take the points from games like this one."

Malvern host Aston OE's at Spring Lane tomorrow (Saturday), kick-off 2.15pm, hoping to go one better than the draw in North Birmingham earlier in the season.