MALVERN Rugby Club powered into Midlands One with a 53-12 home crushing of Crewe and Nantwich in their promotion play-off.

The Spring Lane hosts led 31-0 by the break after holding off early pressure from the Cheshire side.

Malvern settled into their normal game and Luke Milton, in his 150th appearance, was repelled after taking the ball to the away 22.

But they attacked again and Tom Hale cut inside to free Ben King to go over in the corner.

Malvern, who finished second in Midlands Two West (South), forced a snatched clearance and Milton linked with his skipper whose chip ahead went to touch.

From the line-out, they won a scrum and released the ball quickly across the line for Hale to score in the corner.

Milton joined the line again and the ball was fed for Dan Batty to power through.

Rob Cook converted and Crewe already needed three scores to hit back.

The speedy home defence denied them and from a line-out Adam Dixon broke and fed half-back partner Frankie Purcell to score, giving Cook an easy two points.

Malvern played with fluidity while Sam Parsons, Jack Longley and Jack Curtis were demons at the breakdown.

Adam Green and Jon Bywater provided grunt against their heavier counterparts and the young front row of Liam Roleston, Glen Potter and Kai Alton with back-up Callum Jacob outmatched their more experienced opposition.

Roleston struck next as he charged through and Cook's conversion gave Malvern a cushion at the break.

From the restart, Malvern won a penalty and Cook slotted it over.

Then Milton danced through four tackles to go over with Cook again converting.

Malvern continued to dominate as they rang the changes but Crewe struck next as they won a penalty, drove upfield and worked a try.

Malvern's response was almost immediate as Longley seized upon a fumble to score.

Cook slotted the conversion and even the sin-binning of replacement scrum-half Laurie Essenhigh did not put the team off.

Old heads Richard Hobbs and Dave Smith helped them to continue to dictate play.

Crewe pulled a score back from a well-worked move but a Malvern scrum fittingly saw director of rugby Cook set away to bag the final try.

Malvern are straight through to the North Midlands Shield final as last-four opponents Whitchurch withdrew due to a lack of numbers.

They will face Old Saltleians at 1.30pm at Dudley Kingswinford on Sunday, May 13 (1.30pm).