On a cold but sunny afternoon a healthy crowd saw Malvern have the first chance to put points on the board when they were awarded a penalty some 35m. out but Fransson's kick drifted wide. Longton then began to settle into their stride and after a series of attacks on the blindside right wing the ball was transferred quickly through the hands to enable flanker, Francis Nock, to plant the ball down near the corner. Chris Buck's conversion dropped just short leaving the hosts 5-0pts. in the lead.

Longton were penned back into their own half from the kick off and Malvern were threatening with ball in hand but a turnover ball was hacked upfield by Pete Clifton from where it was picked up by Hendry Vaka. He, in turn, popped it up to the supporting Joel Booth who fed winger, Alex George, who then scampered over for the try. Chris Buck's conversion was good giving Longton a 12-0pts. lead.

Malvern though came straight back onto the attack and from a scrum went blind right where winger, Robin Fransson, dived over for a try. The difficult conversion missed giving Longton a 12-5pts. lead. Then, some 4 minutes later Malvern scored their second try when some sloppy defending in the Longton midfield allowed a clear break to send the ball carrier in near the posts. The simple conversion was successful making the score 12-12pts. and Longton knew that they were in a battle. However, they picked up the pace and forced a penalty which was kicked into the visitors' "22". From the lineout the forwards drove the ball for the line for prop, Matt Davies, to secure the touchdown for one of his rare tries. The conversion fell short but Longton were back in front at 17-12pts.

The next passage of play belonged mainly to Malvern as they attacked the Longton line resulting in flanker, Kieron Healey, being yellow carded. The visitors looked like getting their third try as they stormed the Longton line but just when they were about to score, the ball was spilled forward and Longton were able to see out the reminder of the half without conceding any more points.

Longton began the second half determined to make amends for some careless play in the second quarter of the game and, after only 2 minutes, they scored their 4th., and bonus point try. From quick ball from a lineout the ball was fed to centre, Scott Rawlings, who took it at pace and his powerful run took him straight through the despairing defenders as he charged in under the posts. Chris Buck converted and Longton now led by a comfortable 24-12pts.
Then, just 5 minutes later, came the 5th. try and it was a beauty. The ball was passed quickly along the backs to outside centre, Hendry Vaka, whose sublime break took him clean through the defence. He then drew the full back before delivering a perfect pass to hooker, Craig Wilson, who scampered in for the try. Chris Buck's kick sailed through the uprights taking Longton into a 31-12pts. lead. From the kick off Longton number eight, Joel Booth, offloaded to Craig Wilson who, in turn, fed prop, Mark Baker, having a fine game. He went to ground and from the ensuing ruck scrum half, Sam Moores, fed Hendry Vaka moving left at pace. His superb dummy took him through the first line of defence from which he delivered a beautiful pass to winger, Pete Clifton. He need no second chance and he scorched in for the try. The conversion was missed and Longton led by 36-12pts. At this point Malvern were visibly wilting as Longton brought on replacements, Rich Kelly and Aidan Cheshire into the pack.

The visitors' scrum was now under increasing pressure as they struggled to contain Longton's push resulting in the Malvern backs being starved of good, clean possession. With 22mins. of the second half gone Longton had a scrum just inside the Malvern "22". Number 8, Joel Booth, picked up from the base and went blind before feeding centre Scott Rawlings who from that range is well nigh impossible to stop and so it proved as he barged defenders out of his way to touch down in the corner. The difficult conversion fell short giving Longton a lead of 41-12pts.

With what little good possesion Malvern had they endeavoured to move the ball into the midfield where they had had some success in the first half but by now Longton had tightened their defence and some solid tackles went in especially from Aidan Cheshire. With some 10 minutes still to go Longton scored their 8th. try and again it was a classic. Rich Kelly took a lineout off the top and fed Sam Moores whose fast pass set the backs on their way. Slick and well-timed passes from Chris Buck, Scott Rawlings and Hendry Vaka put full back, Luke Fowles into space and he sped in for the score. Chris Buck's conversion split the uprights to put Longton 48-12pts. in front.

The home side resumed attacking and took play deep into Malvern territory ; once again, Scott Rawlings went down the right flank diving in at the corner for what he thought was his hat-trick of tries but the touch judge deemed that he had just put a foot on the touchline and the try was disallowed. The referee blew the final whistle at this point with Longton just failing to hit the 50 point mark but nevertheless generally pleased with their overall performance despite a sloppy second quarter.

Next week they face a difficult task away at Newport, never an easy place to record a win, but they should be boosted by the return of key forwards Rich Thompson and Tim Wareham.

M. Wheat.