WITH only seconds before kick-off and facing a 30-strong U17 squad from Petrarca Padova, bristling with four international and eight regional players, Will Bowen, the Malvern Pirates captain, pulled his injury-hit U16s into a huddle and demanded only the very best from his players.

For those from Malvern who were privileged to witness the match, the Pirates performance was legendary and one that the club and the town should be really proud.

The Pirates tour of Northern Italy began three days earlier with an early morning departure from Spring Lane to Gatwick airport. Ten hours later, the squad of 20 players and nine adults and one junior, were settling into their accommodation at the Venetian Palace Hostel in the centre of medieval town of Monselice, 35 miles south-west of Venice.

The evening match between Ercole Monselice U17s and the Malvern Pirates was advertised all around the 16th century town as a 'match internazionale di rugby' and by kick-off a large crowd had assembled to cheer the local school/club team to victory.

However, after a frantic start, it was Malvern winger Craig Smith who silenced the locals with a scorching run to score a try and open the tourist's account. Monselice had three huge mid-field strike players who tried to take Malvern on alone but time and time again the Pirates defence held strong and the players were brought unceremoniously to ground.

But eventually, the inevitable happened and Ercole Monselice pulled ahead scoring three tries to give them a 17-5 lead at half-time.

Malvern changed tactics at half-time and winger Graham Davies was served quick ball by the the Malvern backline and scored under the bar with fly-half, John Brierly securing the conversion putting the tourists were back in contention at 17-12.

From thereon tries were traded between the two teams, with lock-forward Simon Elliott crossing the line followed by Craig Smith and Brierly adding the conversions for Malvern.

The Pirates were three points short of victory and with only seconds to time, a massive drive by the Malvern pack was brought down on the Monselice line and instead of awarding a penalty try, the referee conveniently blew the final whistle, much to the relief of the noisy home side supporters and the frustration of the Malvern team.

The final score was 29-26 to Ercole Monselice with Malvern lock forward Stefan Milosavjlevich presented with the man-of-the-match award by the Monselice club.

Twenty-four hours later, under the glaring floodlights at the Stadio Padua, the Malvern Pirates were facing the Petrarca Padova all-star team that had crushed the Ercole Monselice U17s by 63-0 earlier in the month.

With Jon Lancett out with a suspected ankle fracture and Stefan Milosavjlevich laid-low with a high temperature and six other players carrying a variety of injuries, things were looking grim for the Pirates.

But Will Bowen's rallying call was heeded and for the first 20 minutes, Malvern were in full-control of the match, pinning Petrarca Padova back into their own 22.

Brierly's drop-goal attempted shaved the wrong-side of the upright and a blistering run by winger Craig Smith ended a metre short of the try-line when he was bundled into touch by a last gasp tackle by Trombetta, one of the young Italian internationals. Petrarca Padova finally broke through with just five minutes to the break and the home side were 12-0 in front thanks to tries from their international debutants, Moretto and Righetti.

Clearly shaken by Malvern's resolve, Petrarca Padova ran the bench at half-time changing 12 players while Malvern brought on Simon Elliott and David Morgans, their only replacements.

Despite conceding a third try and falling 21-0 behind, Malvern battled on and finally the Petrarca Padova line was breeched thanks to an excellent phase of inter-play between the forwards and backs. Winger Graham Davies claimed the touchdown and a monster John Brierly kick collected the two point bonus.

The scores remained locked at 21-7 until full time and a battered but proud Malvern team were warmly congratulated for a magnificent performance, with Graham Davies picking up the man-of-the-match award.

Aa tired but happy band of young Malvern rugby players returned home to England vowing to return to Moncelise and Petrarca Padova in 12 months time to complete unfinished business.