THIS Midlands One fixture at Spring Lane on Saturday was a crucial game for both sides.

MALVERN 15pts, BROMSGROVE 7pts

With the Finstall Park side deep in the relegation zone and Malvern on the fringe, the two teams were both needy of the points on offer.

Malvern came out the stronger and put Bromsgrove under continuous pressure from the starting whistle. Andy Ridley and George Blakeway moved the ball up the narrow side and Young drove the Bromsgrove catcher into touch to put Malvern well in command.

There was an urgency about the team, which probably worked against them. Whilst piling on the pressure, little knocks-on or fumbles meant that the advantage was surrendered on several occasions.

Then on the half-hour, Dave King let loose a clever chip and the electric Rob Young harried his opposite number into touch. From the line-out, where Vince Hill and Chris Smith were majestic receivers of Chris Pemble's throwing-in all afternoon, the ball was passed surely across for Sam Hardcastle to speed in for the opening try. His conversion hit the post, but intent had been translated into points.

Malvern had signalled their resolve, translated into some fine forward drives, Blakeway orchestrating and the pack responding. Hardcastle cut infield to run the ball out of defence and went up the right hand side of the field, unselfishly putting Young in for an easy-looking but well worked try three minutes before the break.

Bromsgrove could see the game slipping away from them by the halfway point and came out in determined mood for the restart. They took more possession and carried the game to Malvern. However, it is a measure of how much Malvern's defensive work has improved recently that, for all the possession, the visitors could not trouble the home line.

Malvern did break loose on occasions. Sam Hardcastle went on another elusive run down the wing and kicked ahead, but Malvern had once again been taken out off the ball. The resultant penalty signalled a period of intense activity in the Bromsgrove 22 metre area, but the defence held up the Malvern drive

The crowd had to wait until the 75th minute for another score. Malvern switched to the short side, Eastwood popped the ball out to Hardcastle and he ran in to seal the victory. A late Bromsgrove rally saw Lee Wainwright score but it was far too late.