MALVERN RFC claimed a narrow 23-20 win against Stratford-upon-Avon RFC with the last kick of the game.
The home side led on four separate occasions before a late penalty ensured Malvern took the points at Spring Lane.
And the result means Malvern sit ninth in the Regional 2 Midlands West table following back-to-back home wins.
Malvern scored the game’s first try after just five minutes when the full-back chipped the ball over the Stratford pack and won the race to the loose ball to dot down.
Stratford responded with a try of their own as lock James Walton crashed over the line following sustained pressure on the Malvern line.
The home side kicked a penalty from in front of the posts to reclaim the lead as Malvern took a three-point lead into the break.
However, Stratford took the lead for the first time after the interval when Gwilym Davis touched down following a five-metre scrum.
The visitors lost Ben Cole to the sin-bin after an accidental clash of heads although replacement Dan Whitby kicked his first points of the season with a penalty to extend Stratford’s lead despite playing with a man less.
Malvern eventually made the most of the extra man by scoring two tries before Cole returned to the pitch to take a seven-point lead.
Stratford drew level soon after when captain Tom Stanley grounded the ball and Whitby converted after a powerful run from Will Dobbin.
As the game neared its conclusion, Malvern won a penalty with Stratford penalised at the ruck only for the home side to pull the kick to the left of the posts.
However, Stratford repeated the infringement minutes later which allowed Malvern another chance to win the game as the home side duly slotted the ball between the posts from just outside the 22.
Malvern are next in action against Shipston-on-Stour on Saturday, October 26 with kick-off at 3pm at Mayo Road.
