MALVERN consolidated their Midlands One position of safety against a plucky Camp Hill side at a sodden and windy Spring Lane on Saturday.

MALVERN 21pts, CAMP HILL 0

The pitch had drained well, but with the going soft to heavy it was always going to be a day for the forwards, and they didn't disappoint.

Malvern drove hard into the Camp Hill half from the off and Matt Williams, brimming with confidence, was again quick to assert his dominance in the line-out.

The front rows engaged in what was going to be a titanic struggle, eventual man of the match James Daniell acquitting himself superbly against a wily and experienced opponent.

Andy Longley opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a penalty after Camp Hill dropped the scrum. Malvern then relaxed somewhat, the Birmingham side briefly threatening, before dominance returned as Malvern slowly put a stranglehold on the game. Richards and Phillips stifled any threat in the midfield, whilst the back row, Taylor outstanding, gave the outside half a torrid time all afternoon.

However, the conditions dictated that mistakes were likely, and this proved the case. Still Malvern dominated, and at the halfway mark, when Merlin held up the ball to set up another foray, Longley's clever chip through saw Rob Young go on with an old-fashioned Scottish foot rush to confuse the opposition and score.

Five minutes later the Malvern forwards went on the rampage, driving half the length of the field, for flanker Ollie Banwell to finish off in style. Camp Hill revived briefly, Jermaine Bernard jinking the whole length of the field to force Longley into a saving tackle.

With Camp Hill old boy Duncan Short replacing Vince Hill the second half began in the same vein, with Malvern dominating. Steve Taylor and Sean Lancett were to the fore in Malvern's surges downfield, but further points proved hard to come by as Camp Hill defended doggedly.

George Blakeway left the field after a collision of heads, Gareth Richards moving to scrum half and Alistair Hills coming into the centre.

In the 70th minute Longley slotted over a penalty, and five minutes later wrapped up the result courtesy of a fine forward drive when Handy, then Merlin, made headway and prop Sean Lancett put the finishing touches to the move as Dave Beech added his bulk to drive him through the opposing winger's last-ditch attempt to hold him up.

David Robins, director of rugby, said: "It wasn't pretty, but it was very effective as we got our first shut-out of the season and had over 80 per cent of territory and possession.

"We are nearly at our survival target of 20 league points and got there today courtesy of our front five, who set up a fine platform for the back row. Our backs defended well and snuffed out any danger as we took our third double to set us up for next week's difficult fixture when we will have to move up a gear."