MALVERN continued to move away from relegation danger with a 26-19 win against Newport.

They went ahead in the fourth minute when the ball was whipped away from the scrum and passed out to Andy Burns on the wing, who out-muscled the Newport defence to run in a try which Steve Ott converted.

Stung into action, the well-drilled Newport pack and their busy scrum-half took the game to Malvern and eventually forced a penalty.

The ball was put into touch for a line-out and the long ball to the backs set up a catch-and-drive culminating in an unconverted try.

Newport were then awarded a penalty and their back-line broke from deep to craft a well-worked try and conversion.

Heavy pressure from Malvern resulted in a penalty, which Ott despatched with ease.

Ott slotted another kick for the hosts to re-take the lead in the 50th minute.

Newport's number five was then given 10 minutes in the sin-bin for killing the ball and Ott added salt to the wounds by kicking the penalty.

On the hour, Wilkinson's chip left the Newport defence stranded as he went over to score and set up two extra points for Ott.

Newport were able to create an overlap for a converted try to leave only one score in it with 10 minutes left.

From the re-start, Newport conceded a penalty and some backchat to the referee took the kick another 10 metres closer to goal, Ott punishing the indiscretion with his fourth three-pointer of the day.

A final Newport rally threatened the Malvern line, but Wilkinson again stole the ball to clear the danger.

Director of rugby David Robins was delighted with the win.

He said: "To put in such a massive display against a side riding high in the table just reinforces the commitment in the squad. With White and Wilkinson again dominating the midfield, we were able to spread the ball and keep the pressure on. Meanwhile, the forwards began to wear them down slowly after a patchy first 20 minutes.

"Our pack countered their mauling game to a great extent and our back-row was in their faces so much that they wasted possession or gave penalties away.

"We now face a difficult away game at Kenilworth in a fortnight with ever-increasing confidence, having a string of five home wins under our belts. If the spirit around the club continues to grow as it has since Christmas, we will surely keep climbing away from the relegation area."