MALVERN Thirds started their season with a new captain, Rich Hyatt, and gained a good victory over a well-drilled Droitwich side.

MALVERN THIRDS 24PTS, DROITWICH THIRDS 7PTS

The home team started up the slope and battled hard while they learnt team mates names and abilities, three of which came from the same family, dad Roger, sons Carl and Craig Demeda, all had travelled from Tamworth.

Mark Wolfe led the front eight from number 8, with Hyatt learning the art of hooking and throwing in and Colin Lancett fed the backs from scrum half.

Malvern opened the scoring from a scrum on the 20-metre line when Wolfe picked up from the back and broke away before popping a pass to the ever alert Lancett. He drew the full back before feeding Phil Hammond who burst through to score. Conversion missed.

Back came the visitors and with good driving from their larger pack they homed in on the Malvern line but Tim Jones managed to steal the ball for Malvern and started a counter which saw Lancett break free with a long run in. After chipping through he was stopped by a shrewd body check but the ball popped up for Simon Smith to collect and run in the second try. Conversion missed.

In the second half Droitwich began more determined and produced a deserved try that was converted for 10-7.

After a few words from the skipper Malvern took up the challenge and Calloway charged through the middle to score under the posts, converted by Taff Brannelly.

Back came Droitwich and Malvern were pegged back within a metre of their own line when Don Cocks produced the clearance kick of all kicks when he side-stepped out of trouble and launched a perfect left-footed punt 75 yards downfield and into touch.

This saw the last of the fight drain from the tiring Droitwich side and when the home forwards stole the lineout ball to again find Calloway, he took the last tackle before feeding Smith for another try under the posts, converted by Brannelly.