WITH the normally very strong Stourbridge team depleted by late withdrawals, Malvern had an easier passage than might have been expected in this Worcestershire Squash League Division Two game.

Even after Malvern's top player, Nigel Long, had withdrawn to make it a more even contest, the home side quickly went two up as both Robin Broad and Kevin Sandercock strolled through their matches hardly breaking sweat.

George Leeds had the toughest encounter of the evening against Dave McCleod and although he recovered after losing the first two games to reach eight all in the final game this match was to be the visitors only success.

Sam Broad, almost a visitor himself these days, came in at number one against Lee Pennels, untidy looking but nonetheless a very formidable opponent.

The opening rallies were fierce and Sam quickly established what appeared to be an unassailable lead. When Sam lobbed, Lee volleyed crisply from anywhere on the court and his tight little drop shots frequently had the Malvern man at full stretch.

Sam is possessed of remarkable speed and lightning reflexes and has added steel to his all round game as he showed with overhead kills into both nicks.

So complete was his dominance that he soon led 6-0 but the errors then began to creep in - boasts and drops were put down when the pressure was minimal - and soon Lee had drawn level as a result before taking the game 9-7.

Having grown up in the remarkably talented squash playing Broad family, it's no surprise to find Sam carrying on the tradition, and since moving off to university he has noticeably tightened his game though it is still often more entertaining than effective.

Perhaps it was due to encouragement from the gallery before the second game that Sam roused himself, taking the next two games fairly easily, and although Lee fought hard to get to 6-7 in the fourth, by then he was a spent force and Sam a convincing winner.

Malvern beat Stourbridge 4-1.

RESULTS: Sam Broad bt Lee Pennels 7-9, 9-1, 9-3, 9-6; Robin Broad bt Derek Lidington 9-0, 9-2, 9-6; Kevin Sandercock bt Alex Haden 9-2, 9-0, 9-1; George Leeds lost to Dave McCleod 6-9, 5-9, 9-7, 9-5, 8-10. One match was conceded by Stourbridge.