SKIPPER Andy Longley's golden boot ensured that Malvern RFC finished the season satisfactorily whilst Newport's point saved them from relegation.

Having left Malvern bathed in glorious sunshine, the champions found both climate and opposition in unforgiving mood, a stiff breeze and pouring rain combining to make a handling and running game difficult. Longley put the visitors ahead with a third minute penalty and Malvern took the game to the Salopians, totally dominating in the scrummage throughout, the wise old heads of Cooper, Handy and Withnall spearheading an afternoon of total domination in the set pieces, whilst Jon Owen reigned supreme in the line out, aided and abetted by a fiercely competitive Duncan Short in the engine room.

Pack leader for the day Steve Taylor and fellow marauders Andy Ridley and Dave Hill kept the Newport half backs under continual pressure, but the Malvern midfield were unable to turn the forward domination into scoring opportunities as attack after attack broke down in the difficult conditions. Newport pulled back a penalty then scored a breakaway try against the run of play. Longley pegged back the lead with his second penalty, but the home side went further ahead with another soft try just before the break.

Malvern started the second half with dogged purpose, continuing to disrupt and win opposition ball against the head, Darren Handy having a field day at hooker, whilst the back row and midfield put enormous pressure on the Newport defence, forcing them into errors and conceding penalties which Longley put over with aplomb. With scores even at 15-15, Malvern were well in the driving seat, but allowed Newport to regain the lead from a penalty after over enthusiasm at a ruck. On 55 minutes the crowd were witness to a few moments of mayhem when Duncan Short was subjected to a brutal piece of retaliation and a free for all developed, Malvern giving back more than they received and the offending Newport flanker being shown a very attractive piece of red card.

However, Malvern were unable to make the numerical advantage tell as the referee, perhaps over reacting, failed to let play develop, and it was left to Longley to square the match with his sixth successful penalty of the afternoon.

Honours finished even, Newport survived to stay up and Malvern obtained a just result.

David Robins, Malvern's Director of Rugby, said "It would have been nice to end with a win, but a draw was fair, given the problems injuries have caused in our selection. The skipper kept us in the game, a typical end of season affair, whilst our forwards were magnificent, dominating scrums and line outs. We have had a magnificent season, only losing one and drawing two when beset by so many injuries that we have played 43 men in the 1st XV, a tribute to our strength in depth. We now enter the uncharted waters of Midlands One, putting us in the top 65 teams in the country outside of the professional game. We will be meeting teams who are semi-professional whilst we remain true amateurs, so we will recruit wisely to supplement our squad to meet the challenge ahead to stay in the top flight."