STRATFORD-UPON-AVON 19pts, MALVERN 39pts

MALVERN visited Stratford for the first time in ten years to face a young and fast-paced home side that had run Lichfield close the previous week.

A firm, dry pitch was made for the open game that the lighter home team was bound to employ, so Malvern played the forwards card, relying on the pack to win ball and disrupt any Stratford possession.

The Malvern pack duly rose to the occasion, driving the opposition back time and again but over-eagerness resulted in some spilled ball and turnovers to deny any scoring during the first quarter.

Gareth Taylor, always to the fore, carried the ball deep into Stratford's half, the home full- back finally making a hurried long clearance that didn't find touch. Malvern's number 15 Chris Hooper fielded the kick and set off on a 60 metre run through the heart of the defence, despairing tackles unable to halt his progress to the line for the opening score, converted by Ryan Watkins.

Stepping up a gear, Anderson and Merlin took on the ball and Christian Edwards fizzed round the field to harry and worry the Stratford midfield. Richard Fleming charged down a hurried clearance, Malvern won the line-out and put in a drive, winning a penalty to touch 8 metres out. The inevitable catch and drive saw the ball touched down by 19-year-old Luke Westwood, a former King's School hooker making his Malvern debut. Watkins again kicked the extra points.

Young centre Ted Lang then ran the ball out and fed Watkins, who set up second phase ball for skipper Anderson, putting in a mighty performance, to charge through and give Watkins another simple conversion.

After the break it was same again' as Malvern attacked up the slope, Anderson once again taking on several defenders to drive through Stratford's defence. A penalty won, the pack drove on again and the ball fed back from Sparrey to Watkins who popped over a dropped goal, repeating the feat a couple of minutes later.

Stratford, at 27-0 down, rallied, deciding that they had to use the pace of their back line if they had any chance of a fight back, and duly put in a 10 minute period of sustained pressure, twice stretching the Malvern defence to score tries.

Malvern replied by once again driving upfield to put Westwood in at the corner to restore a healthy lead. Game to the last, Stratford went on the attack once more, winning a penalty which was quickly taken to score a further try on the hour mark.

Malvern again stepped up and just when Stratford were convinced that the pack would tire, Malvern proved their fitness by putting in a series of energy sapping drives, ending with the home hooker being sin binned as the mauls were repeatedly collapsed.

The penalty gave another catch and drive opportunity with Dave Merlin touching down for the fifth Malvern try, Watkins converting off the post to end the proceedings.