BURTON 27PTS, MALVERN 12PTS

ALTHOUGH erstwhile promotion contenders Burton had slipped up against lesser sides recently, Malvern's players knew however that this visit to Peel Croft would be a difficult task.

The home side's defence had kept Malvern from scoring at Spring Lane, a feat which few teams manage, and their well- drilled pack and nippy backs are a match for any side on their day.

For the first 10 minutes it was all Malvern as the visitors attacked deep into the home half, recycling the ball and dominating in the forwards.

However, the notoriously mean Burton defence managed to slow Malvern's mauls and their back-row were quickly into the faces of the Malvern midfielders, stifling the amount of good ball available.

Against the run of play, Burton broke out of defence and scored a try in the tenth minute, allowing them to settle and slowly gain in confidence.

It was Malvern's turn to go on the defensive, Liam Maloney making a great saving tackle, then the pack just halting a Burton drive short of the line. Richard Fleming made a couple of crucial clearing kicks as Burton continued to put in wave after wave of attacks, but five minutes before the break Burton won a penalty and from a maul after the line-out their prop came off the fringes to score. The Staffordshire side added a penalty to make the score at the turn-round 13-0.

Malvern began the second half as they had the first, full of determination. Another long-distance clearance from Fleming put them deep into Burton territory and a long period of attrition followed, Burton being forced onto the back foot and forced to concede several penalties and silencing the large and vocal home support.

Although Burton's defence held up well, Malvern's doggedness finally paid off from a driving maul, Lancett going over for his 19th league try of the season.

However, the reverse only served to spark Burton back to life and they took the game to Malvern, stretching the defence and increasing the lead with a 65th minute try.

Malvern were still not willing to surrender and the pack, equal to their opposite numbers all afternoon, won several phases and were unlucky to see their efforts unrewarded as two kicks ahead went out of play.

The home side then sealed the game with an opportunist try, stealing the ball during loose play and converting.

However, Malvern had the final say of a thoroughly entertaining match when King, free of the attentions of the Burton back-row, dummied through to score and give Watkins, impressive on his move to scrum-half, the extra two points.