MALVERN put an end to their eight-game winless run with a 20-16 bonus-point win over rivals and fellow league strugglers Worcester on Saturday afternoon.

Connor Giggle scored twice in the first-half before three yellow cards - one leading to a red for fly-half Harvey Smedley - threatened to derail them in the second-half.

But two more scores after the break from John Clark and Ben Gaubert handed Malvern - still in 10th in the table - a vital bonus-point victory that stretches the gap to 11th-placed Worcester to nine points at the bottom of the Regional 2 Midlands West.

The hosts made a bright start in the blustery conditions and a couple of penalties against the visitors gave Worcester full-back George Tomlinson the chance to kick two penalties to open up a 6-0 lead early on.

But Malvern were totally dominant at the scrum and they used that to work their way back into the contest and after a period of pressure in the Worcester half, the ball was worked over to Connor Giggle who dotted down for his first in the corner.

Malvern were getting on top by this point and Giggle raced under the posts for a second try after a storming run from Ben Gaubert down the right wing to put the away side into the lead at 10-6.

Ill-discipline was proving an issue for Vern and at the end of the first-half they were reduced to 14 men when Smedley was sent to the bin for protesting a forward pass.

But it didn’t stop Malvern extending their lead shortly after the restart as John Clark shoved his way over the line under the Worcester posts.

Just as Smedley returned from the bin, Malvern were quickly back down to 14 as John Frifths was yellow carded for not being 10 from a quick tap penalty.

Worcester took little time in making it count when a clearing kick was charged down on the Malvern line and the hosts scored their first try to cut the deficit to 15-11.

But Vern didn’t let it affect them too much and another long spell on the Worcester line produced the bonus-point score, centre Gaubert muscling his way over in the corner. 20-11.

Smedley was shown a second yellow for a tip tackle to make matters a little tricky late on for Malvern but despite a final-play score from Worcester to secure a losing bonus-point, Malvern had done enough to put an end to their eight game winless run

The win also means Malvern increase the gap on second-bottom Worcester to 9 points and ease their relegation worries, whilst their hosts remain in deep trouble.