MALVERN A XV 46pts, WORCESTER WANDERERS XV 21pts

A MIXED Malvern side played a Worcester Wanderers team, which included many first XV players, at Spring Lane on Saturday and were tested for long periods before running out fairly easy winners.

Sam Hardcastle had a superb game and showed his intentions early on, with a darting run to the Wanderers' 22, but Worcester cleared to halfway. However, not to be outdone, the diminutive Malvern scrum half took the ball to within a metre of the opposition line, winning a penalty from which the ball was spread wide for Richard Fleming to score, veteran full back Andy Longley converting.

Although Malvern pressed continuously, the feisty Worcester defence repelled the home assault until Longley opened up the defence and fed winger Fleming, who in turn cut back inside to give centre Graham Ward a fine score. The Ulsterman caught the eye of the Malvern fans several times during the match with some accomplished work both in attack and defence.

Hardcastle then left the crowd and opposition open-mouthed with some stunning rugby, scything through the Wanderers' midfield and chipping ahead to follow up and touch down for what appeared to be the try of the season but the referee had spotted a double movement when he grounded the ball.

With a 12-point cushion, and no doubt some minds focused on the next week's crucial league match, Malvern went off the boil. The Worcester backs started to move the ball about, the right winger proving especially elusive, and only poor handling let them down.

Poor Malvern tackling saw a converted Worcester try, then ex- Malvern number eight, Paul Hart, chased through to ground a kick ahead, the conversion giving Wanderers the lead.

Stung into action, Malvern got back into gear and Marc Gaubert, so long the role model for Hart, went on an unstoppable 40 metre charge to score, flattening the full back in the process.

Playing up the slope in the second half, the pace was hectic but inconclusive for the first 10 minutes until Paul Jenkin made a break for Mark Eastwood to score and Hardcastle to convert.

Worcester replied with another try after some sloppy defensive work, but Malvern again changed gear.

Richard Wylde, back after a lengthy injury, made several telling runs from deep to set up the forwards. Gaubert again went on the rampage to score his second, then Hardcastle set up Andy Isaac for a run up the right and Andy Ridley was on hand to score.

By this time Malvern's extra pace and fitness had told and Fleming and Hardcastle rounded off the proceedings with a try each.

The match was a good sharpener for the Barker's Butts league match tomorrow (Saturday) at Spring Lane.

This is a must-win match for Malvern, who will also be looking to reduce the points difference gap as they fight to stay away from the Midlands One relegation zone.