MALVERN retained their three points lead at the top of Midlands Two West with a comprehensive victory over their Rugby-based visitors on Saturday at Spring Lane.

With a back division much changed due to the mounting injury list, they took the game upfield from the off, Longley's kick finding touch and birthday boy Jon Owen stealing the Old Laurentians throw. Dave Beech, out of position at centre, chipped the ball perfectly for Rob Young's pace to score the first try after only three minutes.

Dave Irish took a scrum against the head and Malvern drove on to the five metre mark, but surrendered the advantage briefly as Dan Sparrey was penalised for feeding at the scrum. However, back came Malvern, Beech again kicking ahead, Young tidying up and Sparrey nipping into the corner.

Duncan Carmichael, in at flanker for his first start of the season, was a picture of athletic aggression, in the faces of the opposing back row and half-backs with a performance that was to see him crowned Man of the Match. Props Cooper and Allies linked well to set up another Malvern attack which saw a penalty for handling in the ruck, Longley bagging the points.

After Hart, putting in possibly his best performance to date, had once again punched holes in the defence, the ball was spread wide, Longley's flip ball creating more options and Jim Callow sped through on the left to give an 18 point lead on the half-hour. Malvern then relaxed and Old Laurentians came back into the game with a penalty and try before the break.

Playing downfield in the second half, Malvern took control, the pack playing magnificently in the tight, Hill as always in the thick of things and Taylor and Carmichael wreaking havoc on the fringes. However, all the probing was halted by a desperate Old Laurentians defence until an attack on the right saw Longley emerge from a pile of bodies having got the final touch. Hart suffered a hamstring injury to be replaced by former skipper Andy Ridley, whilst on 70 minutes Callow took a knock, the mercurial Ben Hughes replacing him. Taylor then went on the rampage, splitting the tiring away defence to feed Hughes who scored as flamboyantly as ever.

A minute later and Sparrey chipped the ball ahead, Hughes claiming the touch down as he sped past his opposite number. Blakeway was unlucky as he attempted a farewell try, but the rampant Malvern pack forced the scrum and the powerful Ridley burrowed over, Longley's conversion sealing the victory.

David Robins, Director of Rugby, was delighted with the win. "With the squad creaking a bit with injuries, we saw the value of our system, especially in the backs where we have great depth of talent. It was good to see Ben Hughes coming on refreshed and hungry, whilst Duncan Carmichael was excellent at open side. We will still have some problems to iron out, but this was a controlled performance, with our fitness again the key factor."

Tomorrow (Saturday) Malvern have an away fixture at bottom club Belgrave of Leicester, kick-off 2.15pm.