Malvern U13s at home to Willenhall and Hereford 30/01/11
Feb
Malvern Stags U13 34
Hereford U13 A 26
A full strength Stags pack were quick to make their mark on the game and soon had the visitors pushed back. A break against the run of play almost gave Hereford the first points but Whiteman was alert and chased down to make a crucial tackle. After this early drama, Malvern spent the next fifteen minutes dominating as the forwards gave a virtuoso display of organisation, power and discipline in the rucks and mauls. Robinson broke for the first points in the seventh minute after another powerful Malvern scrum. Receiving the ball from the restart, Whiteman added to Herefords problems when he made an excellent seventy yard run for Malvern’s second try which Batty duly converted.
Hereford pulled back two tries in three minutes to even up the score but Malvern stayed resolute and settled things down. Some good work in the forwards from Hughes, Curtis and Richards kept the play tight but always moving forward and with the Hereford defence on the back foot and pulled out of shape it was inevitable that the backs would add more tries. Robinson obliged by scoring from a break and then added a fourth when a slick series of passes through the back line took the ball on the right and moved forward through hands across the pitch to challenge the defence on the left wing.
The second half started with a deserved Curtis try as the Stags piled on the pressure but Hereford stayed in the game and pulled the score back to within three points. In the tense standoff that followed it was very nearly a try from a resurgent Hughes that sealed the game for Malvern but his attempt was just held up by inches. Under constant threat from a Hereford break Malvern showed real grit and patience, playing a tight controlled game and much to the relief of a thoroughly entertained Malvern crowd the Stags finally scored the tenth try of the game to seal a well deserved and hard earned victory against a very good Hereford team.
Malvern Bucks U13 0
Willenhall U13 A 31
A POWERFUL WILLENHALL PACK PROVED TOO MUCH FOR THE BUCKS
The Bucks played host to a strong Willenhall side that dominated the forward play and proved to be physically too strong to cope with in the scrums. Having had very few opportunities to work with the ball and losing too much possession in the rucks to make any headway the Malvern defence was under constant pressure.
Despite this, Malvern kept their spirits up and worked hard for the opportunities they did have.
