MALVERN 36PTS, CHELTENHAM NORTH 13PTS

ANOTHER barnstorming opening quarter from an ascendant Malvern side ensured the two Midlands Two West points in another dominant performance.

Having transferred from the South West Division, the visitors were an unknown quantity, but as expected they played a typically robust Gloucestershire-style game.

However, it was Malvern setting the pace from the off, putting in a couple of drives involving some fluid movement before George Roberts was stopped short just short of the line. Patiently recycling, the ball was recycled for Shaun Lancett to crash through for the opening score in the sixth minute.

Three minutes later Malvern lost Taylor to the sin bin through a case of mistaken identity as the Malvern driving maul trampled over a North player who had gone to ground in front of the juggernaut. The lack of a man didn't slow down the Spring Lane side and on the quarter hour a penalty to the five metre mark saw James Hynes take the ball after the throw and put Lancett in for a second try.

From the restart the crowd were dazzled by a move that saw the ball go through six pairs of hands until Dan Sparrey broke to set George Roberts off on a powerful 30 metre run to score and give Ted Lang the conversion.

A kick ahead got the visitors into home territory, the ball falling kindly for them to put in skipper Kehoe for a try in the 21st minute.

Malvern lost Roberts to a leg injury, Adam Dixon coming on for his first senior outing of the season. Malvern continued to dictate play for the remainder of the first half, as the ever busy Christian Edwards hovered up anything on the ground, whilst Hynes was a colossus, ripping the ball out and setting up moves. Gareth Taylor's ball carrying gave many extra yards and Ollie Banwell, out of position at lock, was secure in the line-out.

In the second half, Cheltenham came out with some purpose, winning a penalty for handling in the ruck, fly half Teague scoring the three points. However, any thoughts of a comeback were stifled when James Gwynne kicked ahead and Hynes was on hand to gather and feed Chris Hooper, who danced through the defence to score and give Lang another simple conversion in the 50th minute.

Old warhorse Steve Cooper left the field to the appreciation of the crowd, and Matt Richardson came on, back from injury, to continue the process.

Malvern were back on top, Alex Wenden aiming true at the line-out and getting round the field well, Richard Hobbs again impressed at blind side flanker, whilst Ryan Watkins, standing in as skipper for the injured Anderson, looked confident as he engineered the midfield.

A Malvern penalty deep into North's half on the hour set up the line out and the catch and drive move which saw Lancett going over for his hat- trick and a 21-point lead.

Stewart Clarke replaced Hynes as Malvern sacrificed some bulk for mobility then North fell into more problems as their open side was red carded.

With 10 minutes left, another maul took Malvern deep into the danger zone, the ball went to Fleming who deftly sent a backhand pass to Lang, the youngster bursting through to score under the posts and convert his own try. With two minute left North picked up a consolation try as they won a penalty and drove over the line from the throw, but Malvern had consolidated their number one slot with another masterful performance and the fifth win in a row.