FOLLOWING the previous week's abandonment due to fog, the two teams lined-up on a cold but clear day with the Spring Lane pitch good, but firm in places.

MALVERN 19pts, BARKER'S BUTTS 11pts

The first encounter had seen Malvern's forwards take the initiative, with the front five dominating in the tight. The re-match started in the same vein as the previous week - an early penalty saw Barker's prolific stand-off Richards open with a penalty in the second minute.

The lively visiting backs took the game to Malvern, the defence being asked to soak up pressure for long periods. When Malvern went forward, the pack looked invincible, whether on the pick and drive or the rolling maul.

With the front five again on top, a good platform was being built for attack but final stray passes, kicks which failed to find touch or silly penalty offences conspired to hand the initiative back to Barker's Butts. Some penalties had a touch of the bizarre, especially when Vince Hill was penalised for competing at a 22-metre drop out.

Richards failed with the kick and Malvern again drove upfield, but another penalty saw the Barker's backs cut loose and full-back Lester joined the line to score in the corner.

On the half hour, a further penalty stretched the away lead to 11 points, although Malvern had continued to win the battle up front. The warning had been heeded and Malvern moved up a gear, taking two strikes against the head as Barker's were driven back in the scrums. Centre Chris Ridgers showed his class with a couple of fine breaks and Lancett was well up in support.

Barker's players were dropping with minor knocks as Malvern pounded forward to leave their mark at the end of the half.

The second period saw Phil Rawle come on for Clarke at flanker and his extra bulk counted as he, Gareth Taylor and Aidan Ruddock continued to pound the opposing pack. Hill and Chris Smith secured fine line-out ball all afternoon and skipper Dave Irish, Ping Han and Lancett proved a fearsome front three both in the tight and the loose.

Andy Burns was stretchered off after only five minutes of the restart and this proved the catalyst for Malvern to raise the game yet again. Mercilessly attacking the Barker's 22-metre area, the pack ground down the opposition with rucks, mauls and set scrums. Han carried the ball on, the ball was whipped out past a tiring defence and Steve Ott ran in a fine try, which he converted from wide on the right.

Malvern drove forward driving Barker's to some desperate defence work. With seasoned veteran George Blakeway having joined the backs, Malvern started to suck-in the defence and then feed quick ball out to the three-quarters, one such move putting the strong-running Ben Lamb in for a try which Ott again converted from wide out.

Having taken the lead, the excited spectators could see the confidence growing in their team. Play was held up repeatedly for minor injuries as Barker's sought to re-group, although an unfortunate neck injury again resulted in a player being taken away for treatment.

Malvern were now not to be denied. Driving on again with five minutes left, Malvern turned the ball over and the backs set off again, Blakeway's good hands speeding it along the line for Lamb again to power in to put the game beyond the young Coventry side's reach.