A TARGET of two wins from their next couple of National Three Midlands fixtures has been set by Malvern director of rugby Andy Longley, as his side aim to bounce back from their first defeat in four games.

The Spring Lane side entertain Newport (Salop) tomorrow (ko 2.15pm) and then travel to Peterborough the following Saturday (February 5), with Longley looking to take a maximum points haul from these two fixtures.

A 20-13 loss at second-placed South Leicester ended a run of three successive victories for Malvern, where loose-head props Oli Kitching left the field with a facial injury, and Dominic Murphy also suffered a knock. The latter returns for tomorrow’s clash but Kitching will now not play for Malvern until Easter after going back to university.

Prop Joe Baker has joined Malvern from Stourbridge and will make his debut tomorrow.

Longley: “I think we’re doing well because we have a more settled pattern of play and more confidence.

“The defeat to South Leicester, who are second in the table, still shows how close we are to the top teams.

“The players were disappointed after the game. Without the injuries we suffered, we might have won the game on another day, we did well to get a bonus point and move up a place.

“We have reset our objectives and we beat Newport and Peterborough earlier in the season, so hopefully we can do it again.

“Newport like to move the ball and play attractive rugby, they always put out a competitive side.”

Tomorrow’s Malvern teams.

First-team v Newport (Salop) (tomorrow, away - ko 2.15pm), meet at Spring Lane at 12.45pm, from: J Baker, A Murphy, D Murphy, M Williams, R Gratwohl, P Rawle (c), C Edwards, M Lau-Leong, T Longley, A Dixon, M Jones, R Fleming, A Billig, N Miller, T Hughes, D Hunter, N Murphy, J Tsang.

Second-team - no game this weekend.

Third-team v Upton-upon-Severn II (away - ko 2.15pm), meet at Spring Lane at 12.15pm, players to be advised directly.