HARBORNE II 0, MALVERN II 59pts

WITH several changes being enforced on Malvern's seconds through illness and injury, this North Midlands Reserves League match could have been a potential banana skin for the Spring Lane side.

But the trip last Saturday to Birmingham proved successful, as they kept up the pressure on league leaders, Luctonians, taking all four points with a classy win.

New recruits Richard Harding at inside centre and Huw Dimond wearing 15 settled quickly, Dimond in particular having an early opportunity to test the home defence with a sparkling 40m run which set up wing Cliff Perkins for a chance, but the scramble defence bundled the youngster in to touch just short of the line.

With an unfamiliar back row line-up of Stuart Clark at eight, with brother Nick and Ryan Milne playing six and seven respectively, it took time for Malvern to settle.

But when secure ball was fed to the visiting back division, the hosts had no answer to their speed of hand and foot as first lock Grant Fraser, then scrum-half Sam Jones finished off well-worked moves, fly-half Adam Dixon adding the extras.

Excellent support of the ball carrier allowed Malvern to slice open the defence yet again, centre Will Clee taking the pass to score in the corner.

The relentless pressure on the home side forced errors and when Malvern forwards gathered spilled ball and drove forward, Jones doubled his tally, touching down under the posts for a seven-pointer.

Playing uphill in the second period, Malvern still dominated with tries for wing James Kirkpatrick (two), Harding, Dimond and Milne to score his first for the club.

All tries were converted by Dixon to give Malvern a fine win and put them one point off top spot but with a game in hand.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Malvern II welcome Luctonians II in what promises to be an interesting top-of-the-table clash, kick-off 3pm.