MALVERN failed to ease the threat of Midlands One relegation despite a fair performance against third-placed Whitchurch.

MALVERN 15pts, WHITCHURCH 20pts

Playing with a wind at their backs in the first half, the home side dominated but the strong Whitchurch pack held their ground. Over-eagerness saw Malvern give away penalties and hand over the advantage, but the Whitchurch backs had a nightmare day and the Malvern defence stifled any counter-attacks.

Sam Hardcastle opened the scoring for Malvern with a 10th minute penalty and Dave Hill charged down a clearance which fell to Rob Young who sped in unopposed in the 19th minute. However, an eight point cushion left the boisterous crowd feeling ominous about the second half.

Whitchurch immediately began by kicking deep for territory and within 10 minutes two catch and drive tries from the line out by Appleby and Charmley had put the visitors into the lead.

Malvern rallied and Eastwood, perhaps Malvern's most effective player, repeatedly made ground, his strength taking in three tacklers each time he set up the second phase. Malvern were awarded a 61st minute penalty and Sam Hardcastle took the quick tap and scurried through a poor defence to score and convert a fine solo try and retake the lead.

However, Whitchurch replied by continuing to boot the ball into the corner, boring but effective tactical play, with a resultant catch and drive try for Dutton to even the scores.

The killer blow came as a result of the worst decision of the day. Rob Young harried his opposite number into touch. Bizarrely, the Whitchurch touch judge gave the throw to his own side. The referee ratified the decision and from the line-out another catch and driving maul saw Appleby's second try finish a spirited Malvern challenge.

The crowd got behind Malvern for the final 10 minutes, but although they camped out in the Whitchurch half, another strange decision penalised them, allowing Whitchurch to clear their lines.

An angry David Robins, director of rugby, was upset about the decisions that he felt had cost his team dearly and that the Malvern side had not sewn up the game when they were in the driving seat.

Robins said: "We were tactically inept in the first half and although the lads responded well when fighting back in the second half, they had made a rod for their own backs. We now stare into the gun-barrel of possible relegation.

"We can't leave anything to chance and must go out to win our three remaining fixtures - a tall order. The players certainly want to stay in Midlands One. We hope the supporters show that they do as well by travelling to Dunstablians in two weeks' time."