THE New Year started in resounding fashion for Malvern Under-14s with a 64-5 victory away to Old Salteians.

Because of the Christmas lay-off and a match lost to the weather this was their first game in several weeks and there were signs of rustiness, especially in the passing. But the forwards put the extra bulk acquired over Christmas to effective use and dominated their opponents from the whistle, winning numerous scrums and turnover ball and providing seven of the ten tries.

Andy Powell opened the scoring when he burst away from a maul. The ball was recycled several times by a rampant pack before loose-head prop Jasper Johns crashed over for the second. Adam Green proved unstoppable from both short and long range, peeling from the base of the scrum for his first of the day and then outsprinting the cover defence for a second. In between he linked well with Ross Tolley to send the scrum-half in for a welcome score on his return to the side after illness.

The team then worked the left flank very effectively with breakaway tries by winger Dan and prop Jasper Johns, his second of a one-sided half.

After the break any hopes of a recovery by the home side, playing with the slope in their favour, were soon quashed when Adam Green completed his hat-trick. Old Salts did get on the board with a kick-and-rush try that exploited Malvern's commitment to attack. But normal service was restored with further scores by Dominic Mason and Tom Kennedy-Hughes, the latter's effort a reward for battling bravely through several knocks.

This fighting spirit is typical of the under-14s, a skilful, combative side which has now lost only one match all season. The cause was also greatly helped by the kicking of Ross Tolley, who converted seven of the tries with great aplomb.