MALVERN visited Stratford for the first time in 10 years and came away with a 39-19 triumph in Midlands Two West.

The young and fast-paced home side made the most of a firm, dry pitch by running the ball at every opportunity.

Malvern relied on their forwards to win ball and disrupt any Stratford possession.

The visiting pack duly rose to the occasion, driving the opposition back time and again and releasing their own back line to penetrate into home territory.

Over-eagerness resulted in some spilled ball and turnovers to deny any scoring during the first quarter, but there was an air of inevitability about the way the Malvern forwards were dominating that suggested it wouldn't be long before the deadlock was broken.

Gareth Taylor carried the ball deep into Stratford's half and forced the home full-back into making a hurried long clearance that didn't find touch. Malvern's number 15 Chris Hooper fielded the kick and set off on a 60-metre run through the heart of Stratford's defence. Despairing tackles were unable to halt his progress to the line for the opening score, which was converted by Ryan Watkins.

Stepping up a gear, Malvern turned the screw with skipper James Anderson and Dave Merlin taking on the ball and Christian Edwards fizzing round the field to harry and worry the Stratford midfield.

Richard Fleming charged down a clearance, Malvern won the line out and put in a drive, winning a penalty to touch eight metres out.

The inevitable catch-anddrive saw the ball touched down by 19-year-old Luke Westwood, a former King's School hooker making his Malvern debut. Watkins again kicked the extra points.

Young centre Ted Lang ran the ball out and fed Watkins, who set up second phase ball for Anderson to charge through to score and give Watkins another simple conversion.

After the break, Malvern attacked and Anderson once again took on several defenders to drive through the home defence. A penalty was won and the pack drove on again.

The ball was flipped back from Dan Sparrey to Watkins who fired over a dropped goal, before repeating the feat a couple of minutes later.

Stratford, at 27-0 down, rallied and started to use the pace of their back line. Their ploy worked and they managed to score twice in the space of 10 minutes.

Malvern replied by once again driving upfield, the forwards linking well with the backs to put Lang in at the corner to restore a healthy lead.

Stratford went on the attack once more, winning a penalty which was quickly taken and caught the visiting defence out to score a further try on the hour mark.

Malvern's pack then proved their fitness by putting in a series of energy-sapping drives, ending with the home hooker being sin-binned as the mauls were repeatedly collapsed.

The resultant penalty gave another catch-and-drive opportunity with Merlin touching down for the fifth Malvern try, Watkins converting off the post to complete the scoring.