MALVERN RFC 20, KETTERING 26.

IN this battle of the basement clubs, Malvern started brightly at Spring Lane on Saturday.

Full-back Hooper went on a run from deep, the pack played four phases of controlled rugby then attacked the line but the final pass was knocked on.

Conceding a penalty, they gave possession to Kettering but put pressure on the visitor’s line-out, Doolittle charging down an attempted box kick.

The back line then forced a Kettering scrum which hooker Greenwood took against the head and the ball went wide only for a try-saving tackle in the corner.

Having denied two Malvern scores, the men from Northants grew in confidence and made their first foray into home territory. As Malvern defended desperately, the penalty count began to mount ending with Hynes being sin-binned for Malvern’s repeated offending.

From the tap, Kettering found gaps out on the right and winger Rainbow went through to score, stand-off Whales converting in the 20th minute.

Malvern missed the chance to pull back three points when a kick went wide, then won a penalty to take them back into Kettering territory, only to be penalised for a crooked throw at the resultant line-out.

Five minutes before half-time, Dimond put over a penalty for not releasing.

From the restart, Malvern again took control, working downfield with some good inter-passing moves. Beechey went on the charge, only to be tackled by the full-back when about to cross the line.

Hynes showed some pace with a 30-metre run, Kettering were penalised and Malvern opted for the scrum, whipping the ball out quickly to skipper Watkins, who found acres of space to dance through and score under the posts for Dimond to convert and give Malvern a three point lead at the turn-round.

The second-half started well for Malvern, Daws putting in an impressive performance at open side and young hooker Greenwood showing pace on a run up the line.

Seven minutes into the half, Kettering knocked on, Malvern gathered and Pimlow went through to score for Dimond to collect the extra brace.

With a 10-point cushion, Malvern appeared to have control of the game but Kettering had other ideas.

They slowly clawed their way back into the game and, just before the hour mark, started testing Malvern’s defence, winning a penalty for Whales to put them within a converted try of the home side.

Another penalty after 65 minutes and the gap was only four points, courtesy of Whales, who then added another five minutes later.

Malvern finally managed to break out of Kettering’s grasp to put in some good work into the away 22-metre area, the ball being popped back to Hooper, who dropped a goal to restore the four point gap.

However, with eight minutes to go, a fairly aimless kick into Kettering arms saw their backs link up with the back row forwards waiting on the wing to run in a killer converted try, and then Whales sealed it with a final penalty.