A MIXTURE of forward mobility and backs running incisively gave Luctonians the honours in the first of Malvern's local Midlands One derby matches.

LUCTONIANS 31pts, MALVERN 12pts

With Longley having an off day with his kicking, including two which hit the posts, Malvern found it hard to get points on the board. After a frantic first five minutes Luctonians scored a fine try through winger Will Crawforth as the home side ran the ball from their own 22-metre area. They increased the lead on 10 minutes when Lewis went over, Wheadon converting.

With standoff Harwood dictating the play and the Luctonians forwards playing a well-drilled game around the fringes, Malvern found it hard to get into the game. Some woeful tackling in midfield compounded their frustration. By the middle of the first half the visitors had settled into a better rhythm with the pack doing some close work, but an insistence on kicking the ball away handed the advantage back to Lucs.

Two Wheadon penalties and a try in the ten minutes before the break gave Luctonians a 23-0 lead at the break.

The home team's purple patch continued after the turn round, aided by some basic errors as Malvern dropped passes and fumbled the ball to allow turnovers. Wheadon kicked another penalty, Harwood scored a try and a shut out was looming.

The introduction of George Blakeway and the more controlled play of the Malvern pack saw the visitors slowly gain the upper hand. Malvern lost Steve Ironside after a kick in the ribs saw the Lucs number eight revert to type as in his Hereford days. His insistence on fouling when behind the referee's back meant that some needle crept into the game.

However, Malvern's pack stuck doggedly to the task in hand, and with Gaubert beefing up the forwards they spent long spells camped in the Luctonians 22 metre area. They were rewarded when Gaubert drove through for a try. More sustained pressure on the Luctonians line ended with a penalty try when the referee finally spotted Lewis committing an outrageous act of foul play on Blakeway.

Malvern were awarded a penalty try and Lewis was shown the red card, which rightly should have been used much earlier in the match.

Longley's conversion gave the score line a slightly more respectable look, but skipper Vince Hill admitted: "We were beaten by a better side on the day. They caught us cold early on, our defence was poor and we had to play catch-up throughout the match. Although we played a much better game in the second half , the spoils wet to the right side."

When quizzed about the sending-off, the Luctonians chairman, Dave Thomas, was apologetic to his Malvern counterparts. "It left a bad taste and soured the victory for us. It is not the Luctonians way and we do not condone foul play at this club."

He pointed out that games between the sides are usually hard and cleanly fought, a point on which all were agreed.

Malvern now face Walsall at home on Saturday with some hard work to do on the training pitch.