SPORTINGLY, with players short, both sides agreed to honour this friendly fixture but a Malvern team, representative of the club featuring players from the first to the fourths and a smattering of up and coming youngsters, had too much ability for a spirited Wanderers side, running out winners by a goal and six tries without response.
MALVERN A XV 37pts, WORCESTER WANDERERS XV 0pts
Playing up the slope the home side put on the early pressure forcing errors throughout the visitors. On one such foray, centre Nick Bruton pounced on a loose pass from his opposite number and kicked through for a good opening score.
Whilst the game could have been dead and buried early on Worcester dug in and started to forage deep into the Malvern 22 territory. Only good work by hooker Morewood and flanker Lucas kept the home side's try line intact. As half time approached the game became scrappy as Malvern at times over complicated their possession and wasted opportunities.
The introduction at full back of Jason Young was just the switch that turned the match. Firstly just after the restart 50-year-old second row Mike Calvert came up with the ball from the bottom of a pile of players as Malvern pushed over the visiting forwards.
Then as the Malvern side showed flashes of the style they have played in previous years, a miss move out wide saw Young feed wing Dave Beech moving across the field to run in from half way. Seconds later from the restart the move saw roles reversed as Beech put Young in from a similar distance.
Malvern were now forcing the pace of the game with particular contributions from Kim Withnall and Craig Jones, the ball moved fast and wide around the pitch. To their credit Worcester still tried to run the ball whenever possible, full back Callow looked set to score but was brought down short of the line.
Further pressure saw more resilient Malvern defence but once again the tide turned. Malvern captain Gareth Richards wrong footed the entire defence to stroll in under the posts, Beech converting before another close drive in saw Paul Hart go over for the try. As number eight Marc Gaubert came on a welcome late replacement from 14 months of injury, left wing Ben Ash crashed over for a fine score wide out.
Malvern Director of Rugby Dave Robins said: "I was delighted with the game, and it was good to see the youngsters Craig Jones, Josh Hand and Ryan Milne taking a high profile role in a fine win".
Tomorrow (Saturday) Malvern entertain Longton from Stoke as they look to move further up the Midlands One league table.
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