FOR periods of this game it was a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's show' as Malvern, although evidently superior to their hosts, frittered away chance after chance.

STOKE 17 PTS, MALVERN 32PTS

Having pulled out all the stops against Derby in the previous league match, the Spring Lane outfit started off well against a strong wind with Eastwood and Williams making ground. But Stoke gained possession and some half-hearted Malvern tackling let the Potteries side gain ground and their big flanker Moss scored in the fourth minute, Wig converted.

Malvern piled on the pressure, Eastwood on the crash and Martin was again unlucky to knock on as he went over. With the wind at their backs, Stoke gained ground once more with a penalty taking them deep into the Malvern 22 area, the ball was spun out to winger James and Malvern were 12-0 down.

This proved to be the wake-up call which was needed. Anderson, who looked less sharp than usual, came off the back and fed Eastwood and Martin made it third time lucky as he ran in to set up Longley's conversion. On the half-hour Nick Smith followed a kick ahead and picked up, Eastwood took the ball on and won a penalty. Longley put Malvern within eight metres of the Stoke line, Malvern won a scrum and Richards, playing at stand-off, dummied through to level the scores. The conversion was signalled as over, but subsequently overruled.

Just on half time Richards, Smith and Eastwood again punched holes in the Stoke defence and Malvern won a penalty, the sure boot of Longley giving Malvern a three point lead at the turn-round.

With the wind with them, Malvern started as though they meant to kill the game off. However, a cheap shot in Richards' back by the Stoke prop brought a response which left the offender dazed and confused but which the referee had spotted and the fly half was yellow carded. The Malvern 14 raised their game, put in a driving maul and hooker Andy Logan grounded the ball, Longley's in-off conversion giving a 10 point comfort zone.

The full back then added a penalty in the 50th minute but Malvern's rhythm became disrupted as Stoke began to raise their game, keeping it tight. Malvern lost Martin with severe cramp, Grant Fraser coming on, and then Jamie Anderson's shoulder popped, necessitating a hospital trip. Consummate club man Steve Taylor went to number eight as Malvern soaked up more Stoke pressure until the home team went in at the corner.

Only in the last quarter did Malvern regain their poise as Stoke tired and Eastwood rounded off the day with a superb pick up and powered in to give Longley the final conversion.

David Robins, Director of Rugby, said "It wasn't one of our better performances, but away wins are always hard to achieve and we did what we set out to do. Whilst we knocked on far too often, and gave away too many penalties as Stoke came back at us, we retained our shape well. Owain Wynne and Nick Smith's mobility in the back row was excellent, we were strong in the centre with Eastwood's strength and Humphreys hard tackling, whilst the pack looked solid in the tight.

"We have improved immensely in defending against the driving maul in the last third of the season and are good value for our third place in the league. We now have to maintain the spirit and momentum as we try to regain the North Midlands Cup from Aston Old Edwardians on May 9 at Dudley Kingswinford."

Malvern's next match is on Sunday (April 25), the club's sponsors day, when the opposition will be the University of Worcester (3pm).