THE realities of rebuilding a side hit Malvern hard last Saturday as newly-promoted Camp Hill coasted to their first win over Malvern in recent memory.

CAMP HILL 29pts, MALVERN 6pts

A disjointed Malvern performance, with unfamiliar combinations at half-back and in midfield, saw the Birmingham side's back row spoil and harry Malvern off their game all afternoon.

Flankers Forder and Tangley put Davies and MacLernan under pressure for most of the afternoon, whilst Malvern's back division as a whole were guilty of unforced errors throughout.

Malvern's pack, featuring the return of seasoned veterans Steve Cooper at prop and Dave Irish at hooker, were the big plus in Malvern's performance, with skipper Matt Richardson giving his opposite number a most torrid and uncomfortable afternoon.

However, hard-won ball was too often turned over and as Camp Hill forced penalty after penalty, their stand-off Morrisey had a field day, kicking for position down the slope to put the Spring Lane side under pressure.

The home side had opened the scoring through winger Jones in the 11th minute, but two penalties from Steve Ott saw Malvern briefly take the lead just before the half-hour. Morrisey then replied with two three-pointers of his own to ensure the side changed over with only five points in it.

However, the break signalled a change in fortunes as Malvern struggled to contain the mobile and aggressive Camp Hill back row, conceding another scoring penalty after only a minute.

Phil Snare came on for John Drage and made some good bullocking runs and for a while the spirited Malvern side held their own.

The final 10 minutes saw the wheels really come off for Malvern as Morrisey slotted over another penalty. Then both wingers scored tries in the final stages of the game, which ended on a sour note after a mass brawl and a sin-binning for each team.

Director of rugby David Robins was openly critical of his side's effort.

He said: "We were the architects of our defeat today. We let their back row run riot through our midfield, which consequently couldn't get enough quick and clean ball away to engineer anything. Our wingers were starved of possession and disruptions to the squad meant that we were again forced to play several people out of position. New combinations at half-back and in the centre will take time to gel.

"We saw Steve Ott and Aswat Riaz renew their old university partnership in the centre and perhaps that will work again given better possession. The pack put in a solid performance in the tight but we must quickly address our mobility and handling if we are to reach a respectable position by the end of the season."

Tomorrow (Saturday), Malvern travel to old rivals Ludlow in an Intermediate Cup first round tie. Kick-off 3pm.