Director of rugby David Robins was happy with the Malvern pack

Malvern beat the weather to pull off victory over Kettering in National Three Midlands on Saturday.

All the early pressure came from the home side, with full-back Tom Longley going over for the opening try.

A Malvern line-out set up a catch-and-drive move for Matt Williams to secure the second try in the 23rd minute.

Meadows again found the range for the extra two points.

It was all Malvern from then on - the front row, especially John Clark, giving their opposite numbers a torrid time, whilst Dave Smith and Gareth Taylor were safe hands at the line-out.

Four minutes before the break came the best score of the day, when Longley put in a sublime run to draw the defence before putting James Southall in for a try to make it 22-0 by the break.

Hooker Andy Murphy' s try secured the bonus point and gave Meadows the conversion.

The damage was done by the front five, who destroyed their opposite numbers Director of rugby David Robins

Kettering, then scrapped their way back into contention for a while and six minutes from the end prop Jeremy McKenzie got a consolation score.

But Malvern ended in style when good work by Southall and the returning Simon Daws ended with man-of-the-match Longley running in the fifth try.

Director of rugby David Robins told BBC Hereford & Worcester the win was an ideal springboard for Malvern to start climbing the table.

He said: "The first half performance was as good as it gets, with Tom Longley and Adam Dixon outstanding and the whole pack magnificent.

"Because they act as such a cohesive unit, it's difficult to single any of the eight out, but the damage was done by the front five, who destroyed their opposite numbers."

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