MALVERN RFC dropped their first Midlands Two West point of the season in this local derby at Finstall Park, despite having around 80 per cent of the play.

Having gone six points up in 18 minutes courtesy of two Andy Longley penalties, the league champions looked to be cruising to victory against their county rivals. However, they failed to translate superiority into points, attack after attack breaking down in the face of some spirited Bromsgrove defence. Wrong options were taken, despite almost total domination in the set scrums and line out, where hooker Darren Handy threw with pin point accuracy all afternoon.

A sluggish back row failed to pressurise Bromsgrove's stand off Matt Birch, whose kicking repeatedly cleared the danger to the home line. Birch pulled back three points with a 25th minute penalty, but Malvern continued to press until half time, changing round with the slope in their favour.

Within a minute of the re-start, Birch had put the Boars level with a superb 47 metre kick, and suddenly Bromsgrove were alight, attacking from their own 22 metre line to suck in the Malvern defence and create an enormous overlap, enabling Wilkinson to score under the posts and Birch to convert.

At last Malvern were stung in to action, the fiery Steve Taylor coming on to add bite, and they spent the last 20 minutes of the game camped in the Grove 22. The inevitable finally happened, the ball spinning down the back line for Bo Kristoffersen to score and Longley kicking to level the scores.

Despite all Malvern's spirit, epitomised by the additional depth given by the now fit Paul Jenkin, the visitors just could not snatch victory, and when the referee blew for time without adding any injury time, despite two long stoppages, the differing reactions of the two sides said it all. Bromsgrove were elated, Malvern disappointed and frustrated.

"The players knew they had failed to capitalise on enormous amounts of possession, and although an away point is normally fair reward for a travelling side, Malvern's commitment to excellence and a habit of winning means that everybody in the squad is disappointed with today's performance" said Malvern First XV spokesman Peter Woods.

"We got into Saturday's key game against unbeaten Hinckley aware that they have an outstanding back row who must be stifled, so their free scoring backs are starved of possession. There will be some hard training sessions to ensure that we are properly focussed for the biggest game of the season to date."

The Hinckley game, sponsored by Prime UK Ltd., kicks off at 2.15pm.