MALVERN'S nightmare season continued at Rugby-based Old Laurentians in a fairly scrappy Midlands Two West bottom-of-the-table battle.

OLD LAURENTIANS 28PTS, MALVERN 17PTS

Malvern had previously been a bogey side for the OLs, never having lost to them, but this time the ogres were laid to rest as more injuries meant that Malvern again had to ring the changes behind the scrum and play more untried combinations.

Martin and Sidoli both cried off through injury, giving 19-year-old Adam Dixon, son of Twickenham hero Simon, a first team debut at fly half. Ben Lamb was moved to the full-back position and Steve Ott went to centre with Ian White on the wing.

The forwards were back to strength, with Dave Irish back at hooker after illness and Chris Smith bolstering the line-out on his return to second row duties.

The Malvern pack, with Phil Rowle returning at flanker after a long absence, took the game to the home side and dominated for much of the first-half.

After an exchange of penalty goals and a yellow card for each side, Malvern camped out for long periods in the home half. Smith took a lineout ball, the pack drove-on and Julien Davies was on hand to nip over the line to give Ott the extra two points.

On the stroke of half-time, OLs kicked deep, their winger followed up and kicked ahead, winning the chase for the touch down.

Malvern then lost their rhythm in the second period, allowing OLs to get on top, mainly because of technical indiscipline at the breakdown that meant conceding an unacceptable number of penalties and surrendering territory.

Giant Chinese prop Ping Han came on for his Malvern debut, replacing Lancett and acquitted himself well. On 50 minutes a blind side move caught Malvern cold and the home team took the lead.

Fifteen minutes later, Smith again took the lineout ball, Davies fed Dixon and the youngster went over for his first senior score, Ott converting.

Having re-taken the lead, Malvern failed to press home the advantage as OLs countered. Instead, more penalties were conceded and the home full-back and winger both scored tries before a final penalty secured a winning score which flattered the Warwickshire side.

Malvern's late pressure was a defiant gesture, but little more.