KENILWORTH 46, MALVERN 24.

MALVERN RFC’s search for their first Midlands One win of the season goes to at least a seventh game as they ran out losing 46-24 at Kenilworth.

A perfect start saw Cameron Pimlow seize on a mistake and the ball was fed along the Malvern back line for Ryan Henshaw to power in for the opening score.

Pimlow’s conversion attempt hit the post.

However, the home side were quickly back in contention when a poor clearance gave the ball to the powerful Kenilworth backs, who cut through to equalise, their conversion also hitting the woodwork.

Malvern played with the most spirit seen this season so far, taking the ball to the Warwickshire side and causing them some difficulties.

A long range penalty was then missed by the visitors. A flurry of off-ball activity, saw a player from each side sin-binned.

Kenilworth seized the advantage and their backs once again cut through some sloppy defence to increase the lead in the 26th minute, and then scored in the corner on the half-hour for a 14-point cushion.

Malvern continued to battle, with Owen Jones and Simon Daws in the back row causing some problems in the loose. Coming back into the reckoning from a tapped penalty, a fine move involving Henshaw, Pimlow, Tom Beechey and Gareth Taylor saw the lock go over to score and set up Hooper’s conversion.

However, from the re-start the Kenilworth backs again cut through to score just before the break.

With prop Dan Chesham off with a back injury, the Malvern scrum continued to struggle in the set pieces.

Kenilworth drove over in the corner after taking a Malvern throw but Malvern came back from the restart, securing the ball and passing it out to Beechey, who zipped through to score. This gave added heart to the Malvern performance and they were playing with conviction, retaining possession and working the ball well.

A superb move involving Pimlow, Beechey and Richard Fleming was clinically finished by Henshaw, Hooper’s conversion bringing Malvern to within a single score.

Into the last quarter hour Kenilworth won a penalty and put the ball deep into Malvern territory, attacked the line and scored a converted try.Phil Rawle came on with 10 minutes left but only lasted a couple of minutes as the referee sin-binned him for hands in the ruck, the home side putting over the penalty.

Malvern suffered a further blow when Owen Jones, driving forward, was concussed in a collision and took no further part.

Down to 13 men, Malvern conceded a final try with four minutes to go.