EIGHT-try Malvern beat Kenilworth 57-24 at Spring Lane in Midlands Two West (South).

A warm day brought out a big crowd for the first home league game of the season and they were treated to a vintage performance.

From kick-off Malvern pressed Kenilworth and were rewarded with a penalty which Rob Cook slotted over.

The big away forwards drove to the Malvern 22 using their weight and bulk but the defence was resolute.

Malvern broke free running from their own half and Sam Parsons found Cook whose clever chip ahead was perfect for skipper Tom Hale to chase and ground for the opening try.

Cook converted from wide and then added more extras when Luke Milton put in a superb run from full-back and scrum-half George Parsons increased the lead.

Kenilworth scored a well-worked try through Rhys Jones and their pack won a few set-pieces but Malvern rejigged their formation with Liam Roleston moving to loosehead and his strength paid dividends.

The hosts led 24-5 at the break when the pack put in a controlled catch-and-drive move for Glen Potter to score after Jack Longley’s take and Cook converted.

Malvern controlled play from the restart and George Parsons scored again with Cook converting before Kenilworth lost their blindside flanker to injury.

The home side collected a kick deep in their own half to set Hale off on a 65-metre scorching run, shaking off two tackles before scoring with Cook’s conversion making it 38-5.

Then Hale repeated the move to once again score in the corner.

As Malvern rang the changes Richard Hobbs was involved with slick passing before Malvern turned over the ball at a ruck and Hale collected his fourth try converted by Ben King.

Conor Giggle made a fine break, setting up a phase of play which saw Adam Dixon go over for Malvern’s eighth try which King converted.

Kenilworth never gave up and sustained pressure saw Longley sin-binned with the visitors battering away to go over three more times with a tap penalty move and catch-and-drive from a line-out.

But outstanding Malvern had picked apart promotion hopefuls with a high-tempo game filled with speed, skill and fitness.

While boss Cook sees them as a work in progress the forwards were as confident with the ball in hand as the backs in a crowd-pleasing show.

Second-placed Malvern visit Leamington on Saturday.

Their game at Spring Lane against Nuneaton Old Edwardians on October 21 will be preceded by a members’ lunch.