AFTER several weeks without a game, and facing opposition who were on a high after recently defeating Worcester, Malvern produced one of the best performances by a junior side ever seen at Spring Lane.

MALVERN U15S 34pts, BARKERS BUTTS U15S 7pts

Every player in the squad responded to coach Adam Blackmore's rousing team talk with a thrilling performance.

Not for the first time, the platform was laid by a battling first half display against the slope. Defences were in control for long stretches, but the Malvern forwards came out on top in the set pieces and in the mauls, the whole pack combining to push first Richie Richardson and then Stephen Bowen over for crucial touchdowns, one of which Ross Tolley converted.

Surprised to find themselves behind at the interval, the visitors were thrown a lifeline early on in the second half with a breakaway try. Further counter-attacks followed and the game hung in the balance for a while, until a break by Ross Tolley released Chris Prosser on the left for a fine dash to the line. After this the scores came quickly against demoralised opposition.

Clean line-out ball and a brilliant dummy run by Adam Green created space for Matt Tighe to ghost through the defence for an outstanding try. Substitute Julian Pounsett charged down a clearance kick and Matt Tighe was through again, showing his soccer skills before diving over. Nothing was going right for Barkers Butts by this time. They had a player sent off for dissent, and then sliced a penalty kick to Chris Prosser, who wriggled over for the final action of a breathtaking game.

This was a huge collective effort in which everyone played their part. Particular credit must go to Richie Richardson and Liam Maloney, who broke the game line again and again; to Dominic Taylor, who played the game of his life out of position at full back; and to captain Stephen Bowen.