MALVERN rounded off their unbeaten run in March with a thrilling 35-24 victory over Earlsdon in the Midlands Two West (South) at Spring Lane on Saturday.
A closely contested game saw the first 25 minutes remain scoreless, as both teams juggled for possession and territory.
But it was the hosts who finally broke the deadlock when a well fielded kick in midfield found Tom Hale, who weaved inside and put in a blistering run to the tryline, leaving his opposite winger, the full back and chasing cover in his wake.
Malvern centre George Amphlett then doubled his side’s lead with a sublime sidestep move on the Earlsdon defence, before powering his way under the posts to score, with Ben King adding the extras.
The hosts kept steamrolling forward as the ball was fizzed between players, before skipper Luke Milton darted across the whitewash to ground and extend Malvern’s advantage.
Earlsdon were struggling to cope with Malvern’s powerful pack and it wasn’t long before they shipped another try, when the Spring Lane side’s forwards and backs combined to tee up winger Connor Giggle in the corner, opening a 28-0 half-time lead.
But the Coventry outfit started the second period with a new lease of life as they scored three quick-fire tries and a penalty to whittle the deficit down to just four points.
Entering the latter stages, it was Earlsdon who had the ascendency as they pushed forward in search of a try that would gift them the lead for the first time.
But with just five minutes to go, Malvern’s James Tutty burst through the Earlsdon defence and fed scrum half Laurie Essenhigh, who bundled over to score and seal the win.
Malvern travel to Warwickshire on Saturday to take on Leamington at Moorefields (kick-off 3pm).