MALVERN Rugby Club entertained a 24-man squad from Colgate University, Hamilton, NY State on Saturday at Spring Lane.

MALVERN U23 CRUSADER 43pts, COLGATE UNIVERSITY (USA) 8pts

The university students were on the final leg of their 18-day tour of the UK that began with visits to London and Cardiff, with Vauxhall RFC (Luton) and Trinity College (Carmarthen) respectively hosting the visitors.

After spending Friday sight-seeing and then watching England U21s claim the Grand Slam at Sixways, the tourists took on a Malvern U23 side, brimming with fine prospects from the youth section. In a feisty encounter, the Malvern youngsters, led by Jamie Anderson, won a comfortable 43-8 victory with 18-year-old Matt Tighe collecting a hat-trick of tries on his senior debut.

Andy Burns also claimed a hat-tick, with Richard Fleming picking up the seventh try of the day. Adam Dixon secured the conversions.

The highlight of the match came on the stroke of full-time, when Colgate scored their first and only try of their UK tour and how they celebrated.