MALVERN started the new year with a hard-fought match in Worcestershire League Division One.

The highlight for the town against a strong Worcester City team was an impressive positional win by John Knee over the county match captain.

Brian Turner also won but in a rather fortuitous manner.

Leigh Canham and Matthew Jordan both had steady draws but Geoffrey Herbert lost in a complex game.

Table-toppers Malvern lead 3-2 but they need Ian Clarke to hold a difficult adjourned endgame in order to win the match.