A HASTILY fixture between Malvern and Worcester U14s proved to be beneficial for both outfits even if it was to demonstrate each side's short-comings.

WORCESTER U14s 34pts, MALVERN U14s 26 pts.

Indeed, neither side performed to the top of their game during the first half, which was riddled with unforced errors. Fumbles and a general lack of communication in the Malvern back division helped Worcester to a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes, before the Malvern captain, Will Bowen took matters into is own hands and sliced through the Worcester defence from the back of a Malvern scrum on the Worcester 22. John Brierly converted to bring Malvern back into the game.

Worcester responded well at the restart using their rucking style of play keep a lack-lustre Malvern on the back-foot and a deserved try from the promising Sebastian Lam, who is a shining product of the WASP Active Sport programme, pushed the lead to 15-7.

Then, just as things began to look hopeless for Malvern, Richard Pitt showed his true potential as a centre by tackling and ripping the ball from his opposite number in one move and then strolling in from 30 metres to put Malvern a point UP thanks to a Brierly conversion.

With 15 players eager to play, Worcester had to 'run-the-bench' after the break and the fresh legs helped them to a fourth unconverted try after Malvern had seemed to finally got into gear by keeping the ball alive through good support.

Malvern countered the Worcester rucking style with controlled mauling and bone-crunching tackles and when Malvern new-boy, Craig Smith playing in his first outing as flanker clocked up two quick tries, Malvern found themselves in front by 26-20.

As the game moved into the final ten minutes, Worcester made use of their skilled players on the bench and although Malvern valiantly defended their lead, tiredness and concentration let the Sixways side home with two converted tries to put the game once again beyond Malvern's reach.

This weekend a full strength Malvern U14s are to play Kidderminster in the preliminary stage of the North Midlands U14 Plate and if they intend to progress in the competition, another poor performance by the Malvern backs is something they should not be keen to repeat.