MALVERN gained their first win of the season, knocking out EDF Energy Intermediate Cup holders Chester 21-16 in a great display at Spring Lane.

Tries from Tom Beechey, Greg Summers and Luke Greenwood were enough to see off Chester, who are third in Midlands One, as Malvern kick-started their campign with a morale-boosting victory.

Director of rugby Dave Robins’ side showed great organisation in the forwards, dominating line-outs and scrums with second row James Hynes directing traffic for the home side.

Full-back Chris Hooper also had his kicking boots on, a point which may have cost Chester the win as their fly-half Tom Foden missed numerous penalty chances and conversions.

With no league points at stake, Malvern played with confidence and flair in large parts of the match, dominating the play and kicking for touch intellegently on many occasions.

Despite Chester taking an early lead through a Foden penalty, a try in the 29th minute from Richard Moore and a further touch down from Ross White, Malvern re-grouped and stormed to a two-try recovery just before the break.

Beechey crossed the line in the first minute of first-half stoppage time and then, two minutes later, Greg Summers burst through the middle and went over in the left-hand corner after an impressive 40-metre run.

Malvern could have been forgiven for not wanting the opening period to end, but carried on their fine form when Greenwood finished off a four-man sweeping move across the pitch for his side’s third and final try of the match.

Despite a late penalty from Foden, Malvern hung on for a tense but well-deserved victory.

Robins will now be hoping his side can transfer the cup victory into league points when they resume their Midlands One campaign with the visit of Bedford Athletic on Saturday.