DESPITE several last minute changes, Malvern Rugby Club put together a solid performance to beat Barkers Butts 40-10 at Spring Lane on Saturday.

Malvern went ahead after a lineout in the sixth minute with good handling putting Paul Jenkin over for a try.

On 10 minutes the inexperienced Barkers gave away a penalty, which Andy Longley slotted over.

The forwards set up the Malvern backs who went on a dazzling move, John Martin making ground and feeding Longley, who put Jenkin in for his second score .

On the stroke of half time launched a catch and drive move from a lineout ending with Steve Taylor scoring.

Malvern increased the lead in the 65th minute through Longley. Five minutes later, the pack responded, mauling 15 metres out for Irish to break loose and score.

A penalty put Malvern further in the clear, then Gareth Richards saw a space on the short side to set Hughes up, Dave Irish joining the winger to score his second try with five minutes left.

The Barkers youngsters were spirited to the end, fighting back to score through Dave Medcraft.

n Luctonians opened their Midlands One campaign with a convincing 50-7 home victory over Spalding.

The Luctonians pack was dominant throughout and with Darren Brick controlling the lines out and the front five scrummaging strongly the Spalding eight were on the back foot throughout.

Lucs' eigth tries came from flanker Nick Hamer (four) Andy Garrod (two), Antony Marfell and Steve Saint.

also scored.

four of which came from penalties drilled into touch on the Spalding line where Brick comfortably secured possession and the pack drove over. Flanker Nick Hamer claimed three of these and prop Antony Marfell the fourth. For good measure Hamer helped himself to a fourth try from a tapped penalty in the second half and with Brick was the outstanding player on the field. Lucs opened the scoring in the 12th minutes when the ball was spun left from a Lucs line out and full back Jeremy Wheadon joined the line to put left wing Andy Garrod in at the corner. Hamer claimed his first try in the 20th minute burrowing over from possession won at a Lucs' line out and Marfell added the third five minutes later. Lucs' final try before the break came from a pick up at the back of a scrum by Number Eight Andrew Morris and scrum half and skipper Steve Saint scampered over under the posts. Wheadon added the extra points and Lucs turned around at the half with a comfortable 22 points to nil lead.

Lucs opened the second half with Hamer's second try again from line out possession won on the Spalding line and Wheadon added the two points before Spalding ran in their only try throughout centre Johann van den Berg. Hamer's third and fourth tries and a second try for Garrod with three Wheadon conversions completed the scoring and saw the Lucs supporters troop into the clubhouse well satisfied with their team's performance.

The victory made amends for Lucs' surprised loss to Spalding at Mortimer Park at the end of last season. This season's Spalding side, however, were never allowed to settle and their chance of victory was greatly diminished when they arrived at the ground with insufficient time to recover either physically or mentally from the long drive across from East Anglia.

Huw Davies