MALVERN Rugby Club's injury-ravaged side found title rivals Hinckley too strong as they went down 32-14.

With four injuries in key positions, including the loss of pack cornerstone and skipper Matt Richardson, the omens were not good for Malvern in this Midlands Two (West) showdown between the top two at Spring Lane.

And the home side ultimately went down as Hinckley went level on points with Malvern at the top of the table.

The Leicestershire side came out of the blocks at full tilt but Malvern weathered the early storm and took the lead with an Andy Longley penalty.

The Malvern scrum, so solid over the season, looked vulnerable against a well-drilled Hinckley tight five. James Hynes, valiantly stepping in as emergency prop, gave his all, but the experienced visiting front row was more than a match.

Hooker Alex Wenden had an uncomfortable time and Malvern were unable to give enough of a platform to let the back row and half backs loose without being harried by the quick Hinckley flankers. Hinckley pressed in the home 22, penalties were conceded until the referee gave a penalty try, which was converted, for persistent offending.

Stand-off Frith then increased the lead with a drop-goal in the 21st minute, with Malvern replying through a Longley penalty after Uzoigwe had made a break.

The second-half saw Hinckley step up a gear and Lennox burst through with Frith converting. Desperate to stay in touch, Malvern harried Hinckley from the restart and won a penalty which Longley slotted over to claw the score back to 17-9.

This only served to spur Hinckley on and a driving maul took them over the line for Phil Massarella to score and Frith to convert.

Malvern at last breached the visitors line with a couple of minutes left, spreading the ball wide for Nick Smith to run in to score, but Frith had the last word with his second drop-goal of the day.