BROADSTREET showed on Saturday just why they are top of Midlands One and likely to be promoted to the National Leagues.

BROADSTREET 36pts, MALVERN 8pts

Their impressive new facility, about to host a junior international, was the theatre for an efficient performance which Malvern were unable to disrupt.

It started brightly enough for Malvern, who took the game to the Coventry side for the first 10 minutes, the pack outmauling their opposite numbers and Alex Thomas turning over a Broadstreet attack to set up a dangerous attack. Malvern won a penalty which Richard Fleming put over, but this was to prove a wake-up call for the leaders.

Their super-efficient scrum shoved Malvern back in the set pieces and they started to employ their well-known, but almost indefensible, catch and drive move which brought them four tries during the afternoon. With the front five being given a torrid time, Malvern's back row were unable to set up any good attacking platform, and although Ian White had another fine game at scrum half, there were slim pickings to be had.

Poor defence let Broadstreet skipper John Warne in for a try converted by Mick Wood after quarter of an hour and Malvern managed to hang it out at this scoreline until 10 minutes before the break. As Broadstreet grew in confidence, so some Malvern heads appeared to drop and there were some uncharacteristic below-par performances from the Spring Lane outfit. Lock Dave Lewis scored from close in on 30 minutes, and a repeat driving maul saw Brendan Shepherd join the scrum from the wing to steal over just before the break.

Until then Malvern had been competing reasonably well, but in the second half the wheels came off as the referee missed several obvious infringements by Broadstreet which took them to the Malvern line and guess what - another catch and drive for Chris Gardner to score, Wood converting.

The combative Steve Taylor went on for Paul Hart, and made his presence felt, Malvern penetrating more and getting close to the line. Unfortunately the referee felt that Taylor was a little too combative, red-carding him. Down to 14 men, Malvern still pressed and were finally rewarded as Rob Young went over on the left wing.

However, Broadstreet upped the pace in the tight again and Lewis went over in a repeat of his first score. The Broadstreet hooker, Harrison, already on a yellow, kicked off some skulduggery and should have been given his marching orders. Instead it was Malvern's Vince Hill who walked, the referee deciding that his retaliation whilst being attacked by most of the home pack, was the more serious offence.

A miserable day for Malvern was rounded as Warne grabbed his second score and Wood converted.

Director of rugby, David Robins, said: "There is no disgrace in being beaten by a well-drilled side like Broadstreet. What does worry me, however, is the manner in which we lost. Leaving aside the fact that one of our red cards was possibly unjustified, there were some players out there today not giving their all, almost as if they had conceded defeat before starting.

"Broadstreet deserved the win and we must regroup for our home match against Walsall next week and work on our play in the tight. Apart from the soft first try I was fairly happy with our backs today, defending well and trying to make the best with a paucity of ball. However, if you are driven back up front, you're in trouble, as we found out today".