FOLLOWING the postponement of tomorrow’s final fixture, Malvern director of rugby Andy Longley insists his side have made ‘significant progress’ this season.

With opponents Hereford already safe from relegation, the Spring Lane side’s clash at Wyeside tomorrow was called off under the RFU’s dead rubber ruling. This applies to rearranged matches scheduled for May, where no promotion or relegation issues depend on the result.

Malvern are currently ninth in National Three Midlands on 64 points.

But with a potential points share from the Hereford clash in the offing, Longley’s side may yet finish sixth.

In what turned out to be their final fixture of a congested season, a young Malvern team suffered a 36-21 defeat at Newport (Salop) in the semi-finals of the North Midlands Cup. Despite an inconsistent end to their campaign, Longley says his side have had a good season, often relying on young players who, he hopes, will form a big part in his plans for next year.

He said: “The Hereford match was simply a dead rubber.

“We managed to get ourselves safe from relegation in January.

“It’s been a season of significant change for the club. Over the previous two years we had struggled in this league.

“It’s been a very good season, one of huge progress.

“Up until Christmas, our hard work had not beared fruit. But we went on a really good run in January and February and had some fantastic wins.

“Since then, we picked up a number of injuries, but it has given us an opportunity to play a lot of youngsters.

“We are in the middle group of teams in the table, and I’m delighted with that, but we can’t stand still.

“The planning for next season has started already.”

Richard Fleming, Tom Longley, Dominic Murphy and Matt Williams will battle it out for the player-of-the-year prize at Malvern’s awards and dinner/dance, held at the club on Friday, May 13 (7pm start).

For ticket information, call the club on (01684) 573728.

Malvern league statistics - season 2010-11: Number of tries scored: 84; leading try-scorers: Tom Longley (14), Richard Fleming and Tommi Hughes (both eight); Biggest win: 41-18 v Camp Hill (away) November 6; heaviest defeat: 37-0 v Sheffield Tigers (a) March 5; Number of players used: 47; most appearances: Longley, Fleming (25), John Clark (24).