8:00am Tuesday 9th February 2010
MALVERN turned up at Longton’s impressive new home high above the Potteries with hopes of continuing the run of wins since the new year, but suffered a 31-6 National Three Midlands defeat.
They were met by a much-improved side, which has been strengthened by the return of players from higher levels, and the experience ultimately showed.
Forced yet again to field a new back line because of injury and unavailability, Malvern went into a three-point lead in the fourth minute when Will Farris put over a penalty after Longton failed to clear bodies from the ruck.
In the set-pieces, Malvern’s pack held its own against a much bigger unit, but the mobile Longton forwards looked dangerous and skilled with the ball in hand.
From an 18th minute line-out, they ran through the middle of the Malvern defence for lock Daniel to give the Staffordshire side the lead, with Buck converting.
Three minutes later, they repeated the move, this time to put winger Hallam in for another converted try.
Malvern put in plenty of endeavour and gave as good as they got in the rucks and mauls. While the game was kept in the tight, they were a match for Longton, but as soon as the ball went open, danger signals flashed.
In the 34th minute, a back-row move from a scrum saw flanker Booth go over and, three minutes later, the game was virtually sewn up when a short-side move saw Hallam score again and Buck convert.
On the stroke of half-time, with Malvern making a rare foray into home territory, Farris put over a second penalty.
The second-half saw Malvern come out with renewed determination and skipper Phil Rawle set down a marker with a 30-metre charge deep into Longton territory.
For most of the half it was all Malvern, with the Longton defence under the cosh as the visitors probed away for gaps.
However, the Longton side are extremely well-drilled and their defence held out under some serious pressure.
Malvern were unfortunate to be penalised when it looked as though they were about to drive Longton over the line.
Some chances to keep the pressure on were squandered by poor kicks that didn’t find touch, but Malvern were certainly a much better side than in the first-half.
The only try of the second period went Longton’s way as they ran the ball out of defence to seal the victory.
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