BUOYED by their defeat of Ross on the previous Saturday, Malvern's second XV travelled to Bishop's Cleeve to meet Cheltenham North's Seconds last Saturday in confident mood.

CHELTENHAM NORTH II 15pts, MALVERN II 27pts

Once again, they journeyed back to Spring Lane having claimed victory with an overwhelming mix of power, pace and precision.

From the off, the visitors applied good pressure, with flanker Mark Chivers setting up the first of several attacks which threatened the home side's line, but Cheltenham showed their own attacking potential. Gathering spilled balls in their own 22, they launched a counter-attack which split the Malvern defence, then carried 80 metres for an unconverted try.

Malvern responded well, with Richard Fleming at ten prompting his back-line with neat passing and well-judged positional kicks, but the pressure only produced three points, courtesy of a Fleming penalty kick.

With both sides secure on their set piece, turnovers became crucial and when the Spring Lane outfit's midfield lost possession again, the hosts took full advantage, punishing the error with a well-taken try in the corner.

Trailing 10-3 largely against the run of play, Malvern stepped up a gear, pressing the Bishop's Cleeve outfit back into their 22 before spinning the ball wide to wing Will Clee, who side-stepped his opposite number before crossing to send his side into the break trailing by just two points.

The second period saw Malvern fall further behind. Again proving masters of their own downfall, failing to retain possession in midfield, they were made to pay as North's winger outstripped the defence with a sprint to the corner.

An injury to Fleming saw the visitors back line re-jigged, with Matt Tighe moving from centre to ten, and the teenager's potential immediately showed. Following strong work from the Spring Lane pack, Tighe's direct running and well-timed pass enabled full-back Chris Williams to surge over for a seven-pointer converted by Ryan Milne.

Further power play from the visitors' tight five created the field position from which number eight Owain Wynn thundered over carrying the ball plus two defenders, Milne again adding the extras.

Malvern's constant pressure began to disrupt Cheltenham's shape, and when the hosts infringed on half way, Williams showed both vision and confidence.

Aware that the home defence included a forward in the full-back position, he drop-kicked the penalty deep into Cheltenham's 22, then gambled on his pace, cruising past the last man to gather and touch down, scoring undoubtedly the most impudent try of his career as full-time approached.