Luton 81, Malvern 13.

WHEN it’s a case of good big players against plucky little players there is usually only one outcome, and so it proved at Newlands in National Three Midlands.

With multiple changes for the third week running, including a half-back pairing who had not even been able to train together, the subsequent scoreline could almost be predicted.

Factor in a highly-experienced Luton back division, some with international experience and Malvern were looking at an uphill struggle from the off.

A second-minute opener from centre Peakman, after Malvern had kicked possession away, set the tone for the day, and apart from a couple of Will Farris penalties, the first-half was a tale of Luton running the ball through a makeshift visiting defence every time they got the ball out wide.

In the tight, Malvern’s pack, although affected by some personnel changes, were the equal of the hosts, although the Luton back row were extremely attentive as soon as the ball came out.

The half-time scoreboard told the sorry tale, 48-6 to Luton, with the home crowd purring at the standard of play on display.

To be fair to the young Malvern side, their heads didn’t drop and they tried to compete throughout the contest.

After a Luton score two minutes into the second period, Malvern put in a solid 20 minutes of effort and some excellent defence to keep Luton at bay.

But in the last quarter the effort told and the hosts ran in more scores.

Malvern fought to the end, with Simon Daws and stand-in skipper Andy Murphy to the fore, but there were more worries for the visitors when Murphy and prop John Clarke both left the field through injury.

Malvern at least had the consolation of crossing the Luton line when prop Dominic Murphy dummied the full-back to score under the posts which Farris converted