Malvern 22, Luton 38.

MALVERN shook high-riding Luton in National Three Midlands with a high-octane opening 10 minutes, pinning the Bedfordshire side back in their own half.

A well-executed Jay Martin chip-and-chase took play to the Luton five-metre line.

Malvern won the scrum and the pack drove the much heavier Luton unit over for Martin to open the scoring in the 12th minute. Tom Beechey converted.

However, Luton’s mix of Southern Hemisphere players, supplemented with a few natives, was stung into action and they took play back to Malvern, showing why their early season form had put them among the promotion favourites.

The incisive visiting backs pressed, the ball was taken back into the forwards and South African prop Michael Posthumus went over, full-back Dan Howells levelling the scores with an 18th minute conversion.

This was the start of a 10- minute purple patch for the visitors, who started to put their dangerous three-quarter line through their paces.

Aided by some poor Malvern clearances, the ball was being repeatedly kicked straight to Luton backs, then run through some ineffective defence.

Luton skipper Allen cut through twice in four minutes to set up Howells conversions.

Howells added a penalty on the half-hour. Despite Beechey replying with one for Malvern, Luton finished the half strongly.

A kick-and-chase saw winger Rhys Peakman outstrip the Malvern cover to score and Howells managed an extra two.

Malvern made changes at half-time. Strong came off with an injury, replaced by Christian Edwards and Ryan Watkins came on for Jamie Gwynne, Dave Hadkiss moving to scrum-half.

Malvern’s pack, which had been causing Luton problems all day, showed signs of real dominance, and despite losing skipper Rawle to the sin-bin, they upped the tempo of the match.

The referee spotted an infringement and binned Posthumus and Malvern ran the ball with Beechey making ground. It was switched out to debutant James Aston, who powered through to score with 20 minutes left. Malvern’s tails were up and they took three strikes against the head as the Luton pack were out-performed technically.

Playing deep within the Luton defensive zone, a series of rucking phases drew in the away defence, the ball was sent across to Beechey who scored and converted in the 70th minute.

Sensing at least a bonus point with a win still possible, Malvern camped near the Luton line.

A series of pick-and-drives forced a Luton infringement.

The referee signalled a Malvern penalty but decided not to award it although no advantage had been gained.

He then awarded one to Luton and the visitors rubbed salt into the Malvern wounds by running back a fielded clearance for Allen to score his hat-trick try.