MALVERN got back into a winning groove at Cheltenham last Saturday against an Old Pats side containing several National League squad players.

OLD PATESIANS XV 13pts, MALVERN 39pts

Taking play to the hosts and keeping it tight, the forwards drove downfield, forcing a penalty which Richard Fleming put over.

OPs countered with a fluid movement upfield, but scrum half Ian White put in a big saving tackle. Dave Beech halted another home foray before Malvern opened it up, Paul Jenkin receiving the ball from a scrum and putting in his double-shuffle to score under the posts and give Fleming an easy conversion.

Malvern's back row was looking sharp, with Dave Merlin and Steve Taylor prominent and Anthony Garner growing in stature. Despite a brace of OP penalty scores, Malvern were taking control.

As Malvern attacked the home line they conceded a 5 metre scrum, but the pack got the push on and put the OP scrum half under pressure, he fumbled and White was there to collect, Fleming again converting.

After the break, Malvern playing up the considerable slope, it was Taylor going on the rampage and the forwards showing good close control in general. Sean Lancett, making an injury-delayed full debut, was impressive going forward.

Fleming, a picture of nonchalance when kicking, slotted over another penalty, then Lancett drove upfield, Simon Phillips broke elegantly and the ball travelled via the quietly impressive Aidan Ruddock along the line to the secure hands of Beech who scored in the corner. Fleming made the conversion look easy, which stung Patesians into replying. They drove downfield, won a penalty and kicked to the corner, scoring with a drive from the line-out.

But then Malvern replied with two tries from Rob Young and Fleming's final conversion.

Beech then just had time to save an almost certain try at the death before giving emergency first aid to an injured opponent and showing great potential as a stand-in physiotherapist!