WALSALL were relegated from the National League in what most regarded to be unfair circumstances last year, and most rugby pundits had expected them to be top of the Midlands One tree from the off this season.

MALVERN 12pts, WALSALL 48pts

Having under-performed so far, they unfortunately chose this game against a weakened Malvern to run through their staggering repertoire. The early exchanges were fairly even, but the substantial crowd saw the danger signs as Walsall's zippy backs put together some good moves and probed the Malvern defence.

With the home side on the back foot Walsall forced a line-out and prop Ian Bradshaw crashed through for the opening score, winger Richard Trow converting. Malvern countered and attacked the Seagull End but indiscipline saw the concession of a penalty to let the visitors off the hook.

The home back line was put under continual pressure as the game was played at cup-tie pace, returning winger Ben Hughes putting in some fine saving tackles, but Walsall continued relentlessly and centre Richard Thomas cut through a flimsy defence to score and give Trow an easy conversion in the 25th minute.

Malvern revived on the half-hour when Paul Jenkin sprinted out of defence, hacked the ball upfield and Hughes kicked it on for Jenkin to finish off with the touch down, Andy Longley converting.

Walsall still continued to dominate and only failed to add to their score through their own mistakes as their back row, skipper Gary Clark orchestrating, linked well with the backs with their Malvern counterparts struggling to match them.

After the break, Malvern tried to plug the gaps in defence but were pinned in their own half as Walsall had the lion's share of possession and it wasn't long before gaps opened up for number 8 James Catlin to score. Malvern raised their game when a Longley penalty took them to 15 metres out and a catch and drive move saw prop James Daniell score.

Within one score of the Walsall total, Malvern kept pressing but missed the penetration of before and Walsall ran the ball back at the suspect home defence for lock Mark Gilbert to stretch their lead.

With their tails up, the Staffordshire side started to run rampant, the forwards driving through for flanker James Itchen to score and Trow to convert. Bradshaw's second try gave Trow another two points then the winger thankfully ended proceedings with a try and conversion at the death.

"We were outplayed in all departments by a side who were extremely well-drilled and comfortable with the ball from one to fifteen," said David Robins, director of rugby.

"Our reshuffled back line couldn't contain them and we sorely missed our big tacklers like Gareth Richards, Alex Thomas and Steve Taylor."