MALVERN Rugby Club revived their Midlands Two (West) promotion challenge with a 26-7 win at Old Laurentians following pre-Christmas upsets against Hinckley and Burton.

Jamie Anderson, Tom Green, Nick Major and Adrian Ruddock all scored tries with Andy Longley converting three of them in gusty conditions.

The third-placed town are still two points behind Hinckley and Burton, who both won on Saturday, but director of rugby David Robins was just glad to see his men back on track.

Robins said: "We had a game plan that the lads stuck to which was crucial given the part the elements had to play in the proceedings.

"We used the wind to our advantage and had the match sewn up by the break.

"All we had to do in the second-half was contain and play a patient game out of defence. For me, Mark Eastwood was the man-of-the-match, his game was full of purpose and poise."

Starting the match with the strong wind behind them, Malvern showed plenty of purpose from the off as flanker Nick Smith took the ball deep into Laurentian territory.

With only five minutes on the clock, the pack won a scrum five metres from the home line and Anderson barrelled his way over to open the scoring for the visitors with Longley converting.

The Malvern forwards stamped their authority in the tight as Sean Lancett had a monstrous battle with his opposite number in the front row.

Such was Malvern's dominance that it took a quarter of the game for the home side to cross into Malvern territory.

Before that, King made a couple of classic breaks through the OLs defence, one taking him almost to the line.

On 15 minutes, Malvern won a line-out and the ball was moved swiftly across the back line for Green to score in the corner.

Longley did superbly to put over the conversion from the touchline with the wind still gusting unpredictably.

In the 21st minute, the Malvern forwards drove a maul inexorably onwards before scrum-half Julian Davies set King on his way again, popping the ball to Major to score under the posts and set up another conversion for Longley.

Three clear scores in front and with the gale still at their backs, the hosts were well in control and running smoothly.

Laurentians made a few spirited sorties into Malvern territory but there were always at least two Spring Lane men in attendance to snuff out any further progress.

Meanwhile, every time Malvern went on the attack, Eastwood's strong running was giving Laurentians all sorts of problems.

The powerful centre always seemed to make a further 10 metres each time an attempt was made to stop him which allowed second phase to be set up and the pressure to be maintained.

The second-half saw Malvern playing into the wind but determined not to allow Laurentians back into the game.

The coaching instructions were to keep play tight and the ball in hand as kicking against such a strong wind had let OLs down in the first-half and Malvern were not about to make the same mistake.

True to form, they moved the ball upfield and Davies made a half break which set up a movement across the field.

It ended with Ruddock going over to seal the match only five minutes into the second period.

Laurentians made repeated attempts to get back into the game but Malvern's defence had little trouble in coping with their efforts until a consolation try 10 minutes from time.

n Robins has signed Nigel Richardson, brother of Malvern skipper Matt, to add to the Spring Lane side's strength.

He said: "Nigel is a highly talented number seven who has previously been on contract at Worcester and Stourbridge.

"Work commitments halted his rugby career at the top levels of the game but he is now ready and able to make his return to the game.

"I am delighted he has chosen to do so at Malvern. His experience will benefit the squad greatly."

Richardson is expected to be on the bench for the North Midlands Cup tie with University College Worcester on Saturday.