THEIR previous 18-14 victory against Yardley was just the sort of booster the Malvern Pirates needed if they were to overcome the Bath U15s.

MALVERN U15S PIRATES 8pts, BATH U15s 15pts

But there was a sense of trepidation within the Malvern camp, given that the last time these sides met, Bath had given Malvern a lesson in rugby and dished out a 62-7 beating to the Spring Lane outfit.

As things turned out, the Pirates did themselves proud and earned the respect of the South Western Counties champions.

Bath took the kick-off and then hit Malvern like an express train, but the home side dug in and the now familiar Pirates defensive line held firm, with the first time tackles being made with intent and purpose. Nevertheless, Bath surged ever closer to the Malvern try-line and then stalled within three metres of a score when they gave away a penalty for holding in the tackle. Tom Longley's long penalty clearance up the Spring Lane slope opened the safety valve and the initial threat from Bath abated.

Malvern winger Craig Smith back was a constant threat to Bath all-through the match, as was centre back Tom Kay and when Kay made the link with the Malvern back-row on the second or third phase of play, Bath looked vulnerable.

Nevertheless, Bath took a five point lead in the 15th minute of the match with a try from a flowing move along the backline.

Malvern responded by attacking the restart and regaining possession just inside the Bath 10 metre line. But the visitors were slow to recover from the breakdown and a penalty was awarded to Malvern and then a further ten metres advantage for back-chat from Bath. Scrum-half, Jack Knowles seized the moment and popped the ball to Will Bowen who ploughed his way behind the Bath defence. Bowen was eventually grounded but Knowles was there to slip the ball to Kay to Taylor and finally to winger David Morgans for the equaliser.

Longley's conversion attempt from a difficult angle on the touchline rebounded off the wrong side of the woodwork, but his penalty kick in front of goal ten minutes later was slotted home sweetly to give Malvern a deserved 8-5 lead at half-time.

Ten minutes into the second half, good fortune came Bath's way when a long clearance kick to touch by Longley hit a spectator. The ball was officially dead, but the Bath full-back was quick to exploit the referee's lack of vision and took a quick throw to himself and thus began a counter-attack that finally resulted in the a converted try for Bath. A penalty-goal ten minutes from the end of the match, stretched Bath's lead to 15-8.

Malvern were far from beaten and unleashed probably the most sustained phase of attacking rugby they have ever played. Bath had to kick to get out of trouble, but Malvern full-back Richard Mason five times kick-started the Malvern counter attacks deep into the Bath defence, the final one of which was carried by lock forward David Wood came to within a metre of the Bath try-line before Mr Reynolds finally called an end to the match.

Captain Will Bowen was elected Malvern's man-of-the-match.