MALVERN were knocked off the top of Midlands Two West (South) by county rivals Droitwich after a surprise 23-22 home defeat by struggling Silhillians.

The Spring Lane side went into the game on the back of a 12-match unbeaten run but second-from-bottom Sils, who beat Malvern twice last season, finally found their form again.

Malvern put in an error-ridden performance. The normal fluency was missing, decision-making hesitant and the play littered with knock-ons and fumbles.

Matters were compounded in the opening minutes as Malvern lost the influential Jack Longley to a hand injury which meant the line-out was under pressure.

Sils drew first blood as they put a penalty into the home 22 and forced a scrum before moving the ball well and scoring an unconverted try.

Malvern replied swiftly as Rob Cook put over a long-range penalty but from the restart Sils restored the five-point lead as the hosts infringed within kicking range.

A period of to-and-fro rugby followed but then Cook hit a devastating line to carve through for a converted try to put Malvern ahead.

But Malvern were their own worst enemies as they knocked on repeatedly.

The ball was uncharacteristically slow in coming out, meaning Sils' backs were quickly up on the Malvern threequarters.

The Birmingham side came back strongly and went over the try line but were penalised for crossing.

However, they soon pressured their opponents into conceding a penalty, giving them a one-point lead at the break.

The second half showed little improvement as Malvern put together three good moves only to see the ball dropped or knocked on at the crucial point.

A Sils attack gave Malvern the next score as an interception deep in their own territory saw Cook put in a 70-metre run to score and convert.

This gave Malvern confidence and in perhaps the finest move of the match Ieuan Mustow broke and interchanged passes with Conor Giggle for the winger to score for an 11-point cushion.

Malvern should have finished off Sils and won a penalty a few yards from their line but strangely opted for a scrum.

The visitors drove upfield and won a penalty before working the ball for an unconverted try.

As the clock ran down, Malvern again knocked on, Sils won the scrum and scored in the corner to bring them back to a one-point difference.

The difficult kick sailed between the posts and the referee blew for time to end Malvern’s winning streak.

Too many home players had an off-day against a dogged Sils side.

With a rest week ahead, they can address the problems on the training field before a tough three-game series ahead of Christmas.