MALVERN RFC's director of rugby David Robins had always said that survival in Midlands Two could go to the wire at Stoke on the last game of the season and he was proved right.

STOKE 18PTS, MALVERN 18PTS

With his side needing a draw and Stoke a win to guarantee status for next season, both sides had it all to do at Hartwell Lane on Saturday.

For the first 55 minutes, it looked like the Potteries team were to be in the driving seat.

The importance of the occasion made certain that it was never to be a spectacle of flowing rugby, and an inexperienced referee compounded that fact.

After 20 minutes of error-strewn play and a penalty each, Stoke started to dominate with Malvern looking sluggish. Stoke crept ahead with another penalty, then stepped up the pressure, forcing Malvern to defend for long periods. On the stroke of half-time, the powerful running of the home side sucked in the Malvern defence and Spruce scored a try to give Stoke an eight-point lead at the break.

Ott pulled back a penalty, but Stoke attacked again and a loose Malvern clearance was charged down for another try and Malvern looked down and out for the count.

However, the Spring Lane team are renowned for the backbone shown when under pressure and immediately began to fight back. Anderson came on and soon put his strength and ball-carrying skills to good use. The pack stepped up several gears and suddenly it was Stoke who had to do all the defending. Ott drilled a penalty into the corner, the pack executed a catch-and-drive move which was clinically executed by prop Shaun Lancett, his acceleration taking him round the defence to score on the hour.

Piling on the pressure, Malvern pinned Stoke back in their own half, stealing a throw-in and moving the ball to George Roberts, who powered through for a fine try, Ott's conversion levelling the scores.

A final nerve-wracking 10 minutes saw Stoke desperately trying to breach the Malvern defence, but it held up well until the final whistle brought a mixture of joy and relief to the large band of loyal travelling supporters.

Robins was justifiably proud of his players, who had slowly clawed back from bottom spot before Christmas to win seven home games and take crucial away points to reach safety.

He said: "Our injury count this season is the worst I have ever known, with 51 players having appeared for the first team. The spirit and tenacity of the coaches, players and our magnificent supporters shows just how special is the atmosphere at Malvern Rugby Club. We now go forward with our rebuilding with the goal of promotion to Midlands One next season."