Bromsgrove 23, Malvern 10.

MALVERN went to Finstall Park for this National Three Midlands clash deprived of three of their top backs through injury and unavailability to face a Bromsgrove side with incisive three-quarters.

Knowing that the game needed to be played through the pack, the Malvern forwards didn’t disappoint, giving the hosts a torrid time up front in the opening 10 minutes.

A first-minute scrum was taken against the head as Malvern powered upfield and forced a narrowly missed penalty.

The Spring Lane side continued to press, but it was Bromsgrove, against the run of play, who scored first.

A loose Malvern clearance was fielded and the home backs cut through to hand scrum-half Newman a try, converted by Copson.

Malvern still stuck to the task in hand, but influential lock Dave Smith had picked up a hand injury which was to prove costly in terms of the scrum’s power.

Tom Hale made a break after a Bromsgrove kick was fielded and number eight James Martin was on hand to power through the middle to dive over.

Adam Dixon converted for the equalising score. Bromsgrove soon went ahead again with a penalty against Malvern for joining the ruck from the side, Copson made sure with the kick.

Smith left the field, Sean Robinson went into the second row and took Will Farris’ place on the wing. Malvern continued to dominate in the forwards until a few minutes before the break, when another scrum was taken against the head.

Malvern won a penalty at the next breakdown for Dixon to again equalise.

Just when it looked as though it would be all-square for the turn-round, the hosts won a scrum and made an outside break through some poor tackling to take the lead through outside centre Wilson.

Malvern lost prop John Clarke with a neck injury, replaced by Matt Humphries.

The loss of several stones in weight and Bromsgrove’s re-grouping at the break of their forwards meant that things were now a bit more even in the forwards contest.

Copson’s 47th-minute penalty stretched the lead to eight points as the home side slowly gained the advantage.

The game was finally sealed when another Malvern clearance failed to find touch.

The ball was run across the field and flanker Macgregor was on hand to score the final try.

Despite a frenzied last 10 minutes of Malvern pressure, the home defence held out.