MALVERN go into tomorrow’s National Three South West trip to Chippenham with their confidence restored following a 50-7 North Midlands Cup quarter-final win over Whitchurch.

The bottom four sides in the division, including thirdfrom- bottom Malvern, have been cut adrift, so the Spring Lane side could do with a win in the West Country if they are to close the gap on the teams in mid-table. In the cup clash, it took just two minutes for Malvern to assert their domination over Whitchurch as a powerful scrum led to the ball going wide for Tom Longley to collect and touch down.

Six minutes later, Whitchurch fumbled the ball under pressure and Longley was again on hand to score again and convert his try.

A spirited Whitchurch then briefly fought back from the restart, kicking to the corner and then scoring from the catch-and-drive. Malvern hit back, though, with some quick phases, sending the ball out for Rory Jones to speed in for a fine try.

Malvern continued to dominate the scrum and even when they lost the ball briefly, quick thinking saw it retrieved and given to the returning Richard Fleming to charge through to score, Longley converting.

Luke Milton was then sent on his way with a quick break and James Southall was on hand to finish off the move of the match, setting up Longley’s conversion to make it 31-7 at the half-way point.

After the break, Malvern kept to the game-plan and when Rory Gratwohl again took off from the back of the scrum, Longley was again on hand to score and convert.

After a penalty took them to 20 metres out, Malvern were awarded a five-metre scrum and Gratwohl burrowed through only to be held up on the line.

The ball was whipped quickly out and Jones was on hand for his second try, which Longley again converted.

The half-century came up when Malvern were awarded a penalty and Longley ran through a tiring Whitchurch defence from 30 metres out to score.

The game ended 10 minutes early when a Whitchurch player suffered a suspected broken ankle and could not be moved from the pitch.

Malvern v Chippenham (a): Milton; Miller, Mustow, Fleming, Kitching; Dixon, Southall; Cosgrove, Harris, Murphy, Smith, Williams, Hiscock, Nuttall, Gratwohl. Replacements: Hale, Rambridge, TBA.