MALVERN made the long trip to the Potteries to find a pitch more suited to the set of 'Return of the Swamp Thing' than a game of Midlands One rugby.

LONGTON 13pts, MALVERN 16pts

In fact, the game was in doubt until the clouds lifted before the kick off. Longton, unbeaten at home in the league for over two years, were confident that the conditions were better suited to their style of rugby and went on the attack from the start.

Using the slope and kicking down the short pitch, the Staffordshire side pinned Malvern in their own 22 metre area for long periods, stand off Tony Wheat opening the scoring with a penalty after five minutes and a 12-minute driving maul leading to a try from flanker Rod Scragg, converted by Wheat.

Longton's pack dominated in the line-out and Malvern added to their own difficulties by trying to play running rugby from deep in their own half instead of using the long clearance. However, the penny dropped after half an hour and Malvern got into the game more, playing it close and driving upfield. Sustained pressure by the pack resulted in a penalty close to the home line and, from the resulting melee, winger Dave Beech was on hand to touch down, Andy Longley stepping up for the conversion.

At the start of the second half, Longton, stung into retaliation, took charge once more and Wheat slotted over another penalty in the 50th minute then made what proved to be a costly miss minutes later.

Longton continued to press, testing the Malvern defence which stuck to its task manfully, Gareth Richards as always putting in some big hits, then switching to attack to dance through the tiring Longton pack and set up some wonderful plays.

The game swung Malvern's way as they kept the home team penned in the bottom corner of the field, prop Sean Lancett proved his worth as he drove forward with the rest of the pack now in full cry. As Longton cracked under the pressure, Malvern won a penalty in the 65th minute which Longley slotted and Malvern, tails up, continued to press.

Three minutes from time Longley put over another score to draw level as Longton were forced into infringing. One last surging drive downfield and Longton infringed again, in front of the posts, to give skipper Longley the easiest penalty of the afternoon to seal a famous Malvern victory and halt Longton's proud home run.

Director of Rugby David Robins was delighted with the manner in which his side had stuck to its task.

"Our lads never considered losing to be an option and Sean Lancett in particular came of age as a senior player with an immense performance. It wasn't pretty to watch, but the two points were well deserved in the end."