WITH Selly Oak being sidelined by Birmingham Council's lack of fuel for mowing machines, Malvern travelled to Gloucester for this hastily arranged friendly.

OLD RICHIANS 22pts, MALVERN 31pts

Richians playing true, rumbustious West Country style, so these fixtures always tend to be lively. Paul Jenkin, returning at stand-off for his first game since February after injury, proved that he still had the pace and elusivity which can cut defences in two. He duly announced this by dummying his way through to set up the opening sore for Gareth Richards, skipper Longley converting.

Malvern, playing their usual brand of expansive rugby, took the lion's share of the play for most of the first half, the back row setting up a platform for the backs to perform their flowing game.

OR's pulled back three points with a penalty, but Malvern went further ahead when Mark Humphreys powered his way through, giving Dave Beech a run at the line to put Ben Hughes in for perhaps his easiest score to date.

However, Hughes had to work a little harder for his second score, picking up a dropped Richians' pass to run 80 metres to the line with a speedy son of Gloucester in close pursuit. Malvern fumbled the kick off receipt, a recurring weakness these days, and Richians attack, a kick ahead and chase being won by their winger.

In the second half, with a change at stand off, the home side looked very much sharper, whilst Malvern's pack played with much less shape and less fluidity.

The backs were still probing, however, and when Gaubert collected from a line out and make inroads, hooker Irish was on the shoulder of Andy Longley to score.

A solo effort by George Blakeway seemed to put the issue beyond doubt, and enabled new Danish signing Bo Kristofferson to make his debut, replacing Hughes.

However, as Richians decided to enter into typical Gloucester-style confrontational tactics, Malvern's rhythm became disrupted and OR's came back into the game. Gaubert, having entered into several philosophical discussions with his opposite number and anyone else in the vicinity, made way for Steve Taylor.

Richians stuck at their task doggedly and pulled back two scores as Malvern conceded several penalties, some the result of bizarre refereeing decisions.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Malvern are at home to early league leaders Wolverhampton (3pm).