Malvern forced an important win as they beat South Leicester 10-5 at Spring Lane to climb out of the bottom three in Midlands National Three.

Jay Martin's equalising first-half try, converted by Ollie Meadows, helped Malvern turn round an early deficit.

And Meadows' second-half penalty helped Malvern hang on to claim victory.

"We won because we had the pure will to win. The forwards carried the day," Malvern director of rugby David Robins told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"The lack of match time showed in our overall performance.

"But it was an exemplary performance by the pack to overcome feisty, battling opposition. "

South Leicester scored in their first attack of note on 15 minutes through number eight Stuart Bale.

But, from a five-metre scrum, Malvern put in a controlled shove, driving South's back over the line, Martin touching down for the equalising score.

After Meadows put over the conversion, the game then developed into a stalemate, an element of ring-rustiness evident after three weeks of inactivity.

But the sure-footed Meadows slotted a penalty from wide out to stretch Malvern's lead. And, despite being under pressure in the last 15 minutes, the home defence held firm to go five points clear of second-bottom Kettering.

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