LONGTON I 8, MALVERN I 34.

MALVERN proved once again that they have finally found their feet at the higher level with a comprehensive victory on their visit to the Potteries.

Starting with a solid scrimmaging platform, anchored by veteran prop Steve Cooper and the blossoming James Thomas, the back row were given the opportunity to maraud almost at will for most of the afternoon, James Martin and Simon Daws at flanker putting in excellent performances.

A false start of two missed penalties was soon overcome as Malvern’s backs were able to run through their repertoire, Greg Summers went close but was caught short of the line with Beechey available, then a couple of overlaps were wasted. However, it only took 10 minutes for the Longton line to be breached when Malvern seized the ball in broken play and Nicolas Gyucha was on hand to finish the move. Chris Hooper converted.

The comforting bulk of the returning James Hynes at number eight was denied to Malvern for 10 minutes as the referee adjudged him to have transgressed at a ruck.

But his absence was hardly noticed as the seven-man Malvern pack drove the Longton eight backwards and Daws picked up to drive over, Hooper claimed the extra two points.

The home side replied with a penalty just before the break, but Malvern had established a firm control over the game.

With Summers having been replaced by Ryan Henshaw’s powerful running on the wing, Malvern continued to run the ball around, and Ryan Watkins increased the lead for Hooper to convert.

Then Cameron Pimlow, relishing the extra space given by the pack and scrum-half Dave Hadkiss, popped over a dropgoal from 35 metres out.

A bemused Chris Smith was then sin-binned, erroneously as the referee admitted afterwards, for trying to cut loose from a grasp on his shirt, which the official judged as a punch.

Smith had again put in an outstanding day’s work in the middle of the line-out, but his temporary absence was hardly noticed as Malvern again went on the attack, moving the ball out to Beechey who zipped in from 30 metres out to score and set up another Hooper conversion.

The full-back ended a good day with the boot by putting over a penalty, before Longton scored a consolation try near the end, rolling off the back of the line to go over.

The second successive victory sees Malvern leapfrog Longton in the Midlands One table as they now stand third-from-bottom with eight points.