MALVERN booked their place in the North Midlands Cup final with a 22-20 victory at home to Whitchurch.

The visitors went ahead after five minutes with a penalty but Malvern responded with a series of driving and rolling mauls.

But the well-drilled Whitchurch pack contained them and their young backs broke to secure a penalty try following a deliberate knock-on.

It proved a real wake-up call for Malvern and they responded by running the ball at Whitchurch and exposing defensive frailties.

Dave King put in a great dummy to wrong-foot the defence and fed Richard Fleming who used his power to batter through. Ryan Watkins converted.

Fleming put over a drop goal to equalise seven minutes into the half. But Whitchurch hit back by winning a scrum and putting in a driving maul to retake the lead.

Malvern's Gareth Taylor then punched holes in the Whitchurch defence and the ball ran to George Roberts to run in a try. Watkins put over a superb conversion from close to the touchline. Chris Hooper, who impressed throughout, put a penalty to touch 12 metres from the try-line.

Malvern's driving maul at last got the better of the Whitchurch pack and Shaun Lancett went over for the winning score.

The last seven minutes were played out in nail-biting fashion but Malvern smothered all Whitchurch attempts.

Malvern director of rugby David Robins said: "This was cup rugby at its best with a tremendous performance from both sides. I can't praise my lads highly enough.

"Everyone played their part, but I have to single out Fleming as man-of-the-match once more, while Julian Lambert and Hooper put in their best performances to date."

Malvern meet Solihull in the final at Stourbridge on May 13.