MALVERN RFC director of rugby David Robins has remained upbeat despite his side’s opening 27-3 league defeat to Luctonians.

Robins admitted that his side could not have had a tougher test on the opening weekend against last season’s Midlands One runners-up but can take away many positive from the home reverse.

The Spring Lane side now look to avenge their defeat with a long away trip to Peterborough tomorrow (ko 3pm). He said: “To open against a team who are possibly champions-elect after last season’s record is no disgrace.

“They admitted that they came to Malvern expecting to hand out a thrashing, but we matched them in the set-pieces and had as much territory and possession.

“Their lengthy experience at this level meant they had the edge in the loose, being quicker to the breakdown and always quickly up on any slow ball from the base of our pack.

“Had we taken one or two better options, we could have made it a closer contest and we must look to kill sides off, our finishing needs to be a bit more clinical.

“However, there were many positives, not least young hooker Matt Humphries, my man-of-the-match, taking three against the head and always to the fore in the loose.

“Joe Ling came in to prop at very short notice and he and Dan Chesham were pillars of str-ength.”

First-team squad v Peterborough (away-ko 3pm-meet at Spring Lane at 10am, maroon shorts and socks), from: D Chesham, M Humphreys, D Batten, G Taylor, D Smith, P Rawle, O Jones, J Hynes, J Gywnne, T Longley, R Henshaw, R Watkins (c), C Pimlow, T Beechey, H Dimond. (Replacements): M Newman, S Daws, D Hadkiss.

Second XV v Sutton Coldfield (home- ko 3pm- meet at Spring Lane at 1.40pm), from: T Thomas, N Banks, T Seymour, S Doolittle, A Green, D Wood, C Edwards, R Hobbs, S Jones, A Dixon, J Bennett, J Martin, V Thomas, W Clee, C Hooper. (Reps): B Thomas, S Smith, N Clark.

Third XV v Knighton (home ko 3pm- meet at Spring Lane at 1.30pm), from: T Wolke, R Cox, A Jones, I Hill, L Rolleston, L Moloney, S Clark, M Chivers, C Williams, A Sinter, S Woodward, A Burns, G Fraser, A Hill, R Francis. (Reps): C Lillington, B Pullen, S Campbell.