DROITWICH head coach Rob Bray still believes he can save his side from the drop, but accepts matters have to change and quickly.

Spa were mauled 68-7 by Worcestershire rivals Malvern and the 12-try home loss left them 13 points adrift of safety in Midlands Two West (South).

The defeat follows a 41-0 reverse at Coventry-based side Earlsdon in mid-December.

Droitwich only trailed 19-7 at half time against Malvern before capitulating in the second half and leaking an alarming 49 points.

Bray admitted: “The inexperience of the lads came through. We were missing five regulars and it showed.

“In truth, Malvern are a much better side than their position suggests and, if I was honest, the outcome didn’t come as a complete surprise.

“But we’re still in there and competing. If I can get some of the players back, I still feel we can turn things around.

“It’s still only two or three wins but we’ve got to start picking up bonus points as well, which we haven’t been doing.

“We have a squad of good, young lads and if I can keep them together, we will get better.”

Malvern director of rugby David Irish was full of praise for his team, who played the game as though they were on dry ground instead of a greasy surface.

He said: “Our lads want to run the ball and made light of the conditions to do so.

“A good following from Malvern were there to support them, which helped enormously, and we hope to see more supporters travelling in the future.”

After a series of five phases, starting with Richard Fleming, the Malvern move was finished by Joe Budd for the opening score.

In-form back row Will Gough scored two quick tries before Droitwich hit back with a converted effort.

But Spa then suffered a sin-binning for handling in the ruck and Malvern’s Fleming crashed through to bag the bonus-point try, with Ben King converting.

The visitors started the second half with a penalty try for an illegal challenge on Tom Hale, but King’s conversion hit the bar.

Connor Giggle added two converted efforts and Luke Milton scythed through for another.

Giggle secured his first hat-trick and the pack decided to get in on the scoring action through Stuart Clark.

Malvern finished the game off with two tries from Laurie Essenhigh.