THE RFU have awarded Malvern the two points for a league victory at Newbold rather than have the fixture replayed after the match went to uncontested scrums.

However, the Competitions Committee decided that the 57 points scored by Malvern in the match should be expunged, which has disappointed the Spring Lane side. The scrums went uncontested in the 48th minute when the score was 40-0, because Newbold lost a prop to injury and the nominated replacement had been sent off.

Malvern director of rugby David Robins feels that to lose all 57 points was harsh and that the score should have been left at 40-0 at the least.

He said: "We are in a tight league, with three or four promotion contenders likely to be fighting it out to the end of the season. It is very possible that points difference will come into the equation, and it would be galling to se our chances scuppered by this decision."

Malvern did top the table despite their defeat on Saturday to Hereford but after the deduction of the 57 Newbold points, they have slipped to second-spot behind Lichfield on points difference