MALVERN kick started their Midlands Division One season on Saturday with a comprehensive win over former table-toppers Luctonians at Spring Lane.

MALVERN RFC 21pts, LUCTONIANS 5pts

A stirring pre-match team talk from skipper Andy Longley had the desired effect as the Malvern forwards took the game to the Herefordshire side with a stunning display of controlled aggression and discipline.

Aussie fly half Anton Pilli had been highlighted as the danger man, but the secret weapon turned out to be a damp squib as Malvern's back row put in some big hits and harried the Lucs midfield into making a series of errors.

For the first 15 minutes play was almost totally in the visitors' half as Malvern made the most of the strong wind at their backs. Old warhorse Steve Taylor was in his element, buzzing around ferociously, whilst Alex Thomas was back to his best on the other flank and Andy Ridley made good ground from the base of the scrum.

Hooker Andy Logan continued to impress with some inspirational play in the loose whilst props Steve Cooper and James Daniel were solid cornerstones.

The line-out, a problem last season against the Leominster side, was controlled by Jon Owen and Vince Hill. Malvern's continuous pressure told in the 17th minute when forcing a penalty which Longley slotted over.

Luctonians fought back with some severe testing of the Malvern midfield but the home side defended superbly, Richards, Jenkin and Blakeway snuffing out the danger.

In the 24th minute Ridley picked up and drove on the blind side, the ball was popped out to the wing and Rob Young showed a clean pair of heels for a fine try in the corner. As Malvern continued relentlessly, Blakeway and Jenkin controlling and calling the shots, their domination grew and Cooper was instrumental in chasing a kick ahead, the ball again being fed out to Young for the second try.

Lucs again fought back but failed to penetrate the Malvern defence and as half time approached the Spring Lane side again pressed hard to gain Longley's second penalty of the day and change over 16 points to the good.

Playing into the strong wind, Malvern continued in the same vein as Lucs struggled to find any rhythm and went further ahead on 47 minutes when Richard Fleming, aged 18, jinked in for his debut league try. Vince Hill was stretchered off a few minutes later with a neck injury and replaced by Duncan Short.

Malvern continued to dominate until the last ten minutes when Luctonians finally raised their game, Malvern's stalwart defence still frustrating them. However, Ridley was yellow-carded into the sin-bin and the Lucs pack stretched the weakened Malvern defence, prop Marfell scoring a few minutes from the end.

David Robins, Director of Rugby, was delighted with the performance and said: "We are now where we should have been a month ago. This is where we started to make an impression on this league with a mature and controlled performance for the full 80 minutes.

"We got right in their faces from the off and our superb forwards built a wonderful platform from which to launch our backs into play. Our back row and midfield dominated their opposite numbers and although there is still room for improvement, I am very happy with this display.

"We now go to Hereford in the cup tomorrow (Saturday) and I think we could spring a surprise. We owe them one for the league defeat two weeks ago."