Malvern 45, Kenilworth 20.

AFTER a three-week layoff, the Spring Lane faithful were hungry to see their side fulfil some of the early season promise, and were not to be denied in a scintillating second-half display in this National Three Midlands clash.

Having taken a lead in the third minute after a series of driving mauls saw Simon Dawes go over and Adam Dixon convert, Malvern didn’t turn their domination into points.

Matt Williams was sin-binned and, in his absence, the visitors scored a try through Clements.

Malvern were outgunning the visitors up-front even when down to seven men and a steal saw Jimmy Aston set off on an incisive run deep into the hosts’ half.

However, possession was conceded through a needless penalty.

Some of the old bad habits returned for a while as possession was kicked away, and then the Warwickshire side increase their lead through a Canning penalty on the half-hour mark. Tommi Hughes put in a 40-metre dash but Kenilworth’s won another penalty for not releasing the ball, Malvern stole it back and the forwards went on the burst.

But a backhand pass was intercepted by Canning for a try against the run of play three minutes before the break.

Malvern exploded from the blocks in the second-half. They stole the ball from a Kenilworth scrum, fed it out to Aston and he powered through from half-way to score.

Hughes then put in a huge 50-metre clearance to take Malvern deep into Kenilworth’s territory Malvern won the ball back and Richard Fleming used his strength to breakthrough into the red zone.

The Kenilworth six was sin-binned and a catch-and-drive from the post-penalty line-out saw Matt Humphreys charge in at the corner. Dixon put over the conversion from close to the touchline.

Playing the running game to its potential, they used the skill of the centres and the influential Peter White’s quick passing gave Dixon the space to put Fleming and Adam Billig into the action.

They linked up in a move which saw Hughes join the line and speed through for a 52nd minute try to put clear water between the two sides.

Ten minutes later the full-back put in another killing burst, and then flipped the ball inside for Fleming to score and set up another Dixon conversion.

Malvern still weren’t finished, even with five tries on the board, and Dixon capped off his performance after Murphy stole by nipping through to score and convert.

With four minutes left, Malvern’s dominant scrum pressured Kenilworth and they took the ball, which went out to Billig for the seventh Malvern try and Dixon’s fifth conversion. In the last minute, the spirited Kenilworth side went downfield and tested the Malvern defence. Prop Catalin went over for a consolation score which Canning converted.