MALVERN U17 Pirates ended the autumn league campaign with a comprehensive 55-3 win against Old Yardleians at Spring Lane on Sunday.

MALVERN U17 PIRATES 55PTS, OLD YARDLEIANS 3PTS

The Pirates' fourth half-century victory of the season was not enough to prevent them from slipping to third place in the Southern Division, just two points below Ludlow and eight behind Worcester, who finished as undefeated champions on maximum points.

Against Old Yardlieans, the Pirates began cautiously and it was not until the eighth minute of the match that Sam McCoy finally got the hosts off the mark with a penalty goal. The centre Phil Shore, returning after a short-break from the game, soon made his presence felt by cutting the Old Yards midfield to shreds and finishing with a storming try to put Malvern 8-0 up.

Old Yards were however, full of ambition and living close to off-side at the set pieces, the visitors' rush defence tactics nearly paid-off with their centre-back pairing intercepting a Malvern pass, just 15 metres from the Malvern line. However, the eagle-eye of referee Mark Tovey spotted the off-side and play was called back and Malvern were let-off the hook.

The Pirates then upped the pace and with the front five in an uncompromising mood and rucking with real fervour; scrum-half Sam Jones was able to let the Malvern backrow off the leash. Josh Hughes, a new signing from Malvern College led the way with two well-earned tries, followed by a fine individual effort from fellow-flanker Chris Reed. Sam Jones then decided to get into the act himself; sniping over for a try as the Malvern pack rumbled virtually unopposed to the OY's try-line. Finally, the Malvern back-line came to life and with a flowing move of switches and miss passes, centre David Morgans touched down for Malvern's sixth try. John Brierly secured a 100 per cent conversion record to kick the Pirates into a 41-0 lead at the break.

In the second-half, Old Yarlieans stepped up the pressure and for a long period, they laid siege to the Malvern try-line. Despite the visitors efforts, Malvern put-up a stubborn and yet disciplined defence of their line which was finally ended when clearly frustrated, OY's opted for a penalty-goal.

Malvern soon regained the upper-hand and an interception and breathtaking run by winger Bert Davis was finished by Phil Shore for his second try. Then it was left to Matt Tighe to clock-up the half century for the Pirates, with a jinking run through a bemused OY's defence. Shore's two conversion goals took the final score to 55-3.

The result put the Malvern Pirates into 9th place out of 23 in the North Midlands U17 Merit Table with a 60 per cent win rate, clocking up 265 points, which is the third highest in the region.

The Pirates will now begin a new league programme including sides from Birmingham Solihull, Droitwich and Walsall, plus their old adversaries from Ludlow and Hereford on a home and away basis until the end of the season.