Rugby Union - Sorry Malvern are thrashed (From Malvern Gazette)

Rugby Union - Sorry Malvern are thrashed

11:00am Saturday 15th December 2012 in Local

MALVERN leaked 10 tries in a 64-26 National Three South West thrashing at Chippenham.

The previous weekend’s 50-7 North Midlands Cup win at lower-ranked Whitchurch failed to lift Nick Tisdale’s side for the bread and butter of the league.

It was Malvern’s seventh league defeat in a row but they are eight points ahead of second-from-bottom Oxford Harlequins who continue to struggle as well along with basement boys Maidenhead.

Chippenham took the lead after only three minutes when scrum-half Lewis Surry jinked through the Malvern defence to score a welltaken try and Sam Saunders converted.

Not to be outdone by his brother, wing Ryan Surry was next on the scoresheet after seven minutes with Saunders again adding the extras.

Malvern’s difficulties continued when hooker Jon Turner darted down the touchline to score a converted effort following a line-out, making it 21 points in only 12 minutes.

The visitors hit back with a Luke Milton try but the conversion was missed.

The afternoon was fast becoming the Surry brothers’ show as on 20 minutes Ryan went over for his second try.

Chippenham continued to run riot with the forwards outplaying the Malvern pack in all phases of the game and giant second row Sam Hill powered over for try number five.

As half-time approached, scrum-half Lewis Surry again jinked through the Malvern defence for his second try of the afternoon with Saunders converting.

Chippenham had scored six tries as one-way traffic led to a 38-5 scoreline at the interval. After the break, they continued to apply pressure to the Malvern defence and centre Gary Champion quickly broke through to score with Saunders again converting.

The tries kept coming and full-back Saunders dotted down number eight and converted before Ryan Surry completed his hat-trick and Fraser Clilverd also swooped.

At 64-5 with 15 minutes left, Chippenham conceded a soft interception try to James Southall followed by another breakaway effort by Ieuan Mustow as they lost structure and their game-plan.

Malvern found new spirit and were rewarded with a fourth try from Nick Miller and a losing bonus point but this was Chippenham’s highest league score for two seasons.

The Spring Lane side are at home tomorrow (2.15pm) but will need to do much better against London Irish Wild Geese who have only failed to win twice in the league this season.

...but teens are in fine form

MALVERN Under 16s returned to form with a fine performance to beat Dursley 31-5.

The home forwards made repeated inroads into the visitors’ defence and cleared out the rucks to produce quick ball for their backs. Malvern’s concerted pressure led to first-half tries for Max Hill and Andy Daley.

In the second period, both sides played more expansive rugby and there were some fine handling moves.

Malvern increased their lead with a second effort for Hill and further scores from Harri Claxton and George Cox.

Dursley deservedly got on the scoresheet with a try just before the final whistle.