Scunthorpe 28, Malvern 29.

THEY say what goes around comes around.

This was certainly true in north Lincolnshire, where Malvern, beaten at the post several times early this season, pulled off a dramatic escape act to pip a feisty Scunthorpe side with the last play of the match in this National Three Midlands clash.

The visitors had started well, taking a second-minute lead through an Adam Dixon penalty, then running the home side ragged for the first quarter of an hour, even though playing against a strong, gusting wind.

However, a couple of good scoring chances came to nothing, and Scunthorpe stole a ball in their own 22-metre area, hacked it ahead then popped it up to score a breakaway try against the run of play in the 17th minute.

Some sloppiness crept into the Malvern game to allow Scunthorpe to get back into the contest.

But it was Malvern who struck next, John Clark put in some good work before skipper for the day Matt Williams went over for a try, converted by Dixon.

However, as Scunthorpe mauled their way upfield, Williams was adjudged by the referee to have gone from hero to villain, not releasing the man on the ground, and was told to go to the sin bin.

Scunthorpe levelled the scores from the resultant penalty and slowly started to make the running, their loose forwards taking advantage of poor tackling to make headway.

The Greens then re-took the lead when Malvern went over the top at the ruck to give a 13-10 home advantage at the break.

Two minutes into the second-half it was Malvern’s turn again, Peter White breaking to find Andy Murphy on hand to bulldoze in for a try and Dixon’s conversion.

Malvern lost tight-head prop John Clark to a rib injury, necessitating a reshuffle in the front row. Scunthorpe bounced back as Malvern’s first tackles, so good against Longton the previous week, looked a bit haphazard, and the home side played the ball well around the fringes to make headway. The dangerous left-winger cut inside but knocked-on close to the line, the ball squirted out from Malvern’s put-in and flanker Barron pounced on the gift to score and regain the lead. Malvern countered from the restart, a good move taking them to the home line, but the ball was spilled and their scoring chance went begging.

A Malvern penalty was kicked too long, going dead instead of to touch and from the scrum Scunthorpe drove upfield to extend the lead on 56 minutes.

They then looked to have sealed the game, retaining possession among their well-drilled pack with mauling, finishing with a further try and an 11-point lead with 13 minutes left.

Malvern have a bit more steel than in previous years, and came back strongly, stealing Scunthorpe ball and running out of defence, then moving it across the line to Tom Longley. He made sure with a score wide on the left. Dixon’s crucial conversion took Malvern back to within four points with 10 frantic minutes left.

Malvern then won a penalty, moved the ball out quickly and with the last move of the match put Adam Billig in to snatch victory at the death.