IN the final match of last season Malvern annihilated a Wolves side which only escaped relegation due to the reconstruction of the league system - what a difference a close season makes!

The Men in Black came to Spring Lane as Midlands Two West league leaders, sporting a fit young side made up from a nucleus of their successful Colts squad. Fast to the breakdown, they stormed Fortress Malvern from the kick off, forcing the home side to put all their defensive skills to the test.

George Blakeway and Alex Thomas put in try saving efforts, Malvern slowly riding the initial onslaught ad starting to use the slope to advantage. The speed of cover from both sides meant rushed passes and consequent errors, so the game was never going to be a pretty spectacle, but the cup tie pace saw plenty of excitement for the large crowd.

Midway through the first half, Malvern began making inroads, Gaubert making a trademark sprint to set up a fine attacking move, but the final pass failed to go to hand. From a maul deep in Wolves territory, some good work by Paul Hart set the ball up for the backs, Mark Humphreys hitting the line with a devastatingly angled run to score under the posts for Andy Longley to convert.

Tails up, Malvern attacked again, repeatedly threatening and patiently setting up rucks until the visitors defence went over the top to give skipper Longley a penalty and Malvern a ten point cushion. However, the spirited Black Country side countered, putting the onus back on the Malvern defence and attacked their line, sucking in the back row and creating the extra man in the line to score through Lloyd Bridges.

Playing uphill in the second half, Malvern started to show some of their true form, Jon Owen putting in a sterling performance in the line out and loose which was to win him the Man of the Match award. He set up a rolling maul in the 50th minute and the ever combative George Blakeway nipped through to ground the ball, Longley's fine conversion taking the score to 17-5.

At this point in a game, Malvern often move up a gear and start to run amok, but the impressive visitors had other ideas, taking the game back to the champions, Swingwood putting over a penalty to claw back three points.

With the game still see-sawing from end to end, Malvern started putting some moves together, creating a two-man overlap for a certain score, but the referee decided not to allow the advantaged and the result was further three points from Longley's boot rather than a possible seven.

Malvern pressed and probed, Richards jinking around in midfield, Beech unlucky with a follow-up chase and the front row continuing their war of attrition. Thomas charged down a clearance kick but didn't get the luck of the bounce. Wolverhampton finally cleared their lines with an enormous clearing kick, Hughes was put under pressure and Butler strolled in to score, Swingwood's conversion bringing them back to within five points.

The last frantic five minutes saw Malvern pressing hard and driving a maul over the Wolves line. The try was disallowed as the referee could not see if the ball was grounded, Malvern stuck to their task and the relief of the final whistle soon arrived.

Malvern travel to Derby tomorrow (Saturday) for their third League match, a coach will be provided for players and spectators leaving at 11.30am prompt.