23/12/05 - Malvern slip back

BARKER'S BUTTS 33PTS, MALVERN 18PTS

However, the coaches of the young home side had learned well and Malvern were comprehensively outplayed. The home tactics were simple but effective, keep the ball away from Malvern's pack and move it out to their penetrative backs. This simple tactic proved effective.

Malvern conceded the now-customary early penalty in the third minute and Darren Richardson opened Barker's account. Two minutes later a driving maul sucked in the Malvern back row and the ball was spread wide for the pacy home backs to run in a try, converted by Richardson.

From the restart, Han took the ball on, Malvern gained a penalty and Ott reduced the margin by three points. A quick restart from Barker's nearly caught Malvern cold and only some last-gasp defence prevented another try, but the home team increased the lead on the quarter-hour mark with another penalty.

A deliberate knock-on gifted three points and all Malvern could muster in return was an Ott penalty in the 28th minute.

A minute into the second-half, Ott kicked deep to the corner, Barker's took a quick line-out and the attempted clearance kick was charged down for Gareth Taylor to collect a gifted try, Ott converting.

At 16-13, Malvern were back into the game and should have produced match-winning points.

However, Barker's pressurised the Malvern midfield and another Richardson penalty relieved the pressure. Malvern forced Barker's back into their own 22 metre area, but a moment off ill-judged indiscipline saw Lancett sin-binned. Barker's made the most of it and from a free-kick released the speedy left winger to score and Richardson to convert.

A serious injury halted play but from the restart, Chris Ridgers ran a 70 metres to score and raise Malvern hopes. However, it was not to be as Barker's again ploughed upfield and forced an error in the Malvern 22 for a coffin-nailing final converted try.