MALVERN'S losing streak and injury jinx continued at Spring Lane in Midlands One West as their 14 men narrowly fell 24-17 to Stourbridge Lions.

The bottom-of-the-table side, who were hit by an early red card, gifted the visitors two of their four tries and the win bonus point.

Within a few minutes a Malvern clearance kick was charged down, giving Stourbridge an easy collect and soft try in the corner.

Malvern shook off the early disappointment, taking play deep into away territory after a fine break by Jack Curtis.

The ensuing 12th-minute ruck saw the scrum-half illegally lying on the ball and Liam Roleston picked his opponent up to clear him out.

But what should have been a Malvern penalty then became a red card for the prop as he was adjudged to have dumped the player in a dangerous fashion.

Malvern seemed to have a mountain to climb and then Richard Fleming and James Tutty left the field through injury.

Stourbridge worked the ball upfield for a converted try but with Will Gough pressed into emergency service for his first game at prop Malvern held up well in the tight plays and competed with ferocity in the loose.

They switched play around and Thomas Brainwood went over in the corner before the break.

The second half saw Malvern continually run at the Lions defence with Adam Dixon making a break and George Roberts on hand to power through for a try.

The Black Country team rallied and scored in the corner while Malvern were dealt another blow as Brainwood received a knock on the head, taking them down to 13 men.

But they repeatedly attacked the Stourbridge line before Ieuan Mustow finally forced his way over to set up Jasper Windsor-Clive's equalising conversion.

However, a moment of controversy ensued as the Stourbridge winger appeared to have his foot in touch and when a Malvern clearance kick was charged down the visitors snatched an unlikely win with the resulting score.

A losing bonus point was not enough from a game they could have won with a full side.

Malvern travel to ninth-placed Sutton Coldfield on Saturday as they seek their first victory of the new year.