Malvern 21, Burton 16.

A LARGE crowd at Spring Lane were treated to a non-stop display of high intensity rugby in the opening match of the National Three Midlands season.

After the opening exchanges, it was Malvern who made the first clear attacking move but full-back Tommi Hughes was just edged into touch.

However, it was the visitors who drew first blood after seven minutes with a Bartram penalty, but the home side quickly responded.

A neat chip from Tommy Hayes was marked, but Malvern put the away defence under pressure, turning the ball over.

It was whipped out to Hughes who had come from deep and he sped through for a 10th-minute score giving Hayes the conversion. Another marker was set at the first scrum, 15 minutes into the game, when the Malvern pack put the much heavier Burton eight into all sorts of trouble.

However, from an ensuing ruck the referee spotted a Malvern infringement and a Marshall penalty brought the Brewers back to within a point.

Malvern’s front row continued to put Burton into disarray, but it was the visitors who went ahead.

The referee missed a Burton knock-on and awarded a try as the visiting scrum-half Darryl Banton, went over.

From the re-start, Malvern drove to the Burton five-metre area with a penalty, but the referee sin-binned John Clark as he attempted to clear out the obstruction.

Nonetheless, the seven-man Malvern pack still put the Burton eight under pressure as the half ended with Malvern tails up.

Having lost Adam Billig to injury, Hayes moved to centre and Adam Dixon came on at stand-off for Malvern.

Hughes collected and sped to the Burton 22-metre line but a knock-on gave the Staffordshire side the scrum.

The Malvern pack drove them off their own ball before, winger Jimmy Aston cut inside and went through to score, Dixon converting.

From a mistake, Burton collected the ball deep in the Malvern half and winger Dan Smith went over in the corner to retake the lead.

Burton’s Booth was then yellow carded and Malvern were given a penalty try three minutes from time. Dixon’s conversion gave Malvern a winning margin.

A couple of scares were averted for the hosts as the clock ran down and four precious points were secured.

Tomorrow’s teams: First-team squad v Kenilworth (away-ko 3pm)-meet at Spring Lane at noon, Ketch Hotel, Worcester at 12.15pm, from: A Murphy, M Humphreys, J Clark, D Smith, G Taylor, S Robinson, O Jones (c), S Dawes, T Longley, A Dixon, G Gregory, R Fleming, M Jones, J Aston, W Farris, J Southall, C Edwards, J Thomas.

Second-team squad v Cheltenham North (home-ko 3pm)-meet 1.30pm, from: A Almond, M Prosser, W Downes, J Longley, D Wolfe, J Jeavons-Fellows, S Clarke, G Fraser, L Gwynne, K Harvey, N Clarke, N Miller, M Hardy, G Webster, Bennett, O Kitching, J Budd, R Coles.