Herriot is star for Seconds

DESPITE having no game the previous week, due to the late withdrawal of Solihull, Malvern's seconds maintained their impressive momentum last Saturday with a battling victory over Walsall seconds.

With a substantially re-jigged pack, and changes also being forced in the back division, the Spring Lane outfit's strength in depth proved crucial in this North Midlands Reserves League encounter.

Walsall's pack dominated the early set pieces, disrupting the Malvern scrum and setting up good attacking platforms but once again, the host's back row play, led admirably by debutant and man-of-the-match Jack Herriot, ensured control at the breakdown while the host's defence in midfield comfortably contained the Black Country outfit's attacking threat.

First blood went to the visitors, dispatching a 30 metre penalty to punish Malvern's hands in the ruck, but as the host's front five began to assert control over their opposite numbers, the balance of power shifted and Walsall took their turn to defend. Excellent work in the centre by Stuart Smith created an attacking opportunity and with the home side's backs quickly working the ball wide, centre Will Clee was on hand to receive, then sprint to the corner for a five pointer.

A further Walsall penalty saw the lead change hands again on the stroke of half-time.

The second period saw the game settle into a midfield battle. Walsall reverted to the kicking game, attempting to pin Malvern back but the host's defence, with the wily veteran Gareth Richards at 15, frequently returned the ball with interest.

Following a strong passage of forward play from the Malvern pack which took the ball up to the Walsall five metre line, outside-half Adam Dixon, spotting the lack of defensive cover out wide, cross kicked to wing Cliff Perkins.

Although held up short of the line, he fed Grant Fraser, who in turn passed out of the tackle to release Clee to score his second of the game and give his side their third consecutive league win.