ANOTHER battling performance from Malvern's seconds saw the Spring Lane side notch up a fine win against higher-ranked opposition on a breezy afternoon last Saturday.

MALVERN II 23pts, CINDERFORD II 22pts

The boys from the forest arrived at Malvern with a large, aggressive side and with their firsts sitting pretty on top of South West Division One, they started confidently, attacking rucks and creating opportunities to test the home defence.

Malvern's centres Gareth Richards and George Roberts linked well, stemming Cinderford's intention to crash through the midfield, but after ten minutes the Gloucestershire side set up a quick second phase to release their inside-centre who cut a good angle to race through under the posts for a seven pointer.

The home side's willingness to dig deep, a feature of their play this season, began to tell on their opposition, who appeared rattled by the intensity of Malvern's tackling and rucking. A series of penalties forced the visitors to concede ground to their 22, from where Malvern's driving maul saw prop Mark Freestone score his fifth try of the season.

Cinderford upped their own efforts and scored within minutes with a drive of their own, crossing in the corner to restore their seven-point cushion.

Malvern skipper Vince Hill, leading by example, took the visitors head on, carrying strongly and setting up quick ball which was spun wide for number eight Lee Varney to thunder over for Malvern's second try.

Fly-half Adam Dixon's conversion attempt sailing narrowly wide.

Again, the visitors raised their game, using the advantage of the breeze to pin Malvern back and pressuring the defence into errors. They used their opportunities well, first setting up a drive, which allowed their big number five to touch down. Then using the pick-and-drive to suck in the defence before popping the ball to the same man who dived over spectacularly to score his second and put his side 22-10 up at half-time.

With the wind at their backs in the second period, Malvern replaced wing Dave Beech with Richard Fleming, whose prodigious boot repeatedly turned defence into attack and Cinderford's pack began to tire.

In possession on half-way, Dixon cleverly kicked into open space. As the defence hesitated with a difficult bouncing ball, centre Roberts chipped the ball on the run over the full back before gathering the to sprint in under the posts. Dixon added the extras then moments later slotted a penalty to bring Malvern to within two points.

As the clock ran down, desperate defending from the visitors saw the award of a penalty 35 yards out.

The referee made it clear this would be the last action of the game and Fleming, showing poise under pressure, bisected the posts to seal a fine win.