Malvern 21 - Burton 16
A big crowd at Spring Lane were treated to a non-stop display of high intensity rugby in the opening league match of the season. After the opening exchanges, it was Malvern making the first clear attacking move; full back Tommi Hughes just being edged into touch. However, it was the visitors who drew first blood after 7 minutes with a Bartram penalty, but the home side quickly responded. A neat chip from Tommy Hayes was marked, but Malvern put the away defence under pressure, turning the ball over. It was whipped out to Hughes who had come from deep and he sped through for a 10th minute score giving Hayes the conversion. Another marker was set at the first scrum, 15 minutes into the game, when the Malvern pack put the much heavier Burton eight into all sorts of trouble. However, from an ensuing ruck the referee spotted a Malvern infringement and a Marshall penalty brought the Brewers back to within a point. Malvern’s front row continued to put them into disarray, but bizarrely it was the visitors who went ahead. The referee, who was struggling to spot some of the “finer” points of play, failed to see the Burton number eight knock on although right up with play, and he awarded a try as the visiting scrum half, Darryl Banton, went over.
From the restart an aggrieved Malvern drove to the Burton 5 metre area with a penalty, the Burton forwards were using a variety of illegalities to hold up play, including lying on the ball, but the referee saw fit to sin-bin John Clark as he attempted to clear out the obstruction. Nonetheless, the seven man Malvern pack still put the Burton eight under pressure as the half ended with Malvern tails well up.
Having lost Adam Billig to injury, Hayes moved to centre and Adam Dixon came on at stand-off for Malvern. Hughes collected and sped to the Burton 22 metre line, but a knock on gave the Staffordshire side the scrum. The Malvern pack drove them off their own ball, winger Jimmy Aston cut inside and went through to score, Dixon converting only four minutes into the half. With both sides eager to play open rugby, there were inevitably some early-season errors which made it all the more interesting for the crowd. From one such home mistake, Burton collected the ball deep in the Malvern half and winger Dan Smith went over in the corner to retake the lead. This was the signal for an immense effort from Malvern. They camped out in the Burton 22, forcing scrum after scrum on the 5 metre line and putting in immense drives. The wily former Longton back row men in the away pack played the referee, who signally failed to spot all sorts of illegal tactics, but the pressure finally told as Booth was yellow carded and Malvern given a 77th minute penalty try which in truth should have come much earlier. Dixon’s conversion gave Malvern a winning margin, a couple of scares were averted as the clock ran down and four precious points were secured.
The coaching team were fairly satisfied with the performance, although conceding that the Burton back row’s pressure in midfield had kept them in the game. Malvern’s pack, which did so well throughout, put in a great performance and the backs, mostly new to each other, showed already that there is much more to come as the season progresses.
This Saturday the Malvern team travel to Kenilworth, who were involved in a high-scoring match against Scunthorpe, losing out by only three points from the 75 point total. All travelling support will be welcomed as the squad goes on the road for the first time for a 3.00pm kick off at Glasshouse Lane.
