WITH the match against Bath only two weeks away, all 25 players from the Malvern Pirates were out to prove their credentials in this match against an aspiring Old Salts outfit.

MALVERN U15 Pirates 57pts, OLD SALTLIANS U15s 12pts.

Playing up-hill and against a strong wind from the hills, the Pirates took the game to the visitors with a solid performance from the pack and some deft handling and running lines from the back division. Tom Kay put in an outstanding exhibition as inside centre and thoroughly deserved the Malvern man-of-the-match award.

The home side surged into a 26-0 lead with tries from Tom Kay, winger Craig Smith, lock Dave Wood and the try of the match from winger David Morgans who scooped up an awkwardly bouncing hack-through from centre Richard Pitt from inside the Old Salts half after the Malvern mid-field defence suppressed a promising attack from the visitors. Tom Longley kicked three conversions.

But Old Salts were far from out of the game and for the last few minutes of the half, the Pirates were forced to defend their line and even a valiant last ditched tackle from Longely that ruled him out of a for most of the second half, Old Salts secured a try and conversion on the stroke of half-time.

The Malvern coach then ran the bench but the changes failed to diminish the Pirates resolve. Alex McToal replacing Ben Mason as open-side flanker was impressive and Piers Harris proved a worthy replacement for Pirates captain Will Bowen at number 8, scoring a brace of tries in the space of five minutes as the re-jigged Malvern pack stamped their authority.

Old Salts made a brief come back with an unconverted try before Brierly looking comfortable at fly-half, moved Malvern into overdrive. Two tries from Richard Pitt and second for winger Craig Smith topped by conversions from Brierly took Malvern over the 50 point mark for the third time this season.