MALVERN completed their season with an 18-14 North Midlands Cup semi-final defeat at local rivals Worcester Wanderers.

Facing relegation from National Three level, Malvern dominated the second quarter after going 8-0 down to a try and penalty but then had three players sin-binned.

Two Adam Dixon penalties reduced the deficit and the visitors won the second-half territorial battle.

Ieuan Mustow’s try and a third Dixon penalty established a 14-8 lead but Wanderers were boosted by a Malvern yellow card for stamping. A second sin-binning led to a penalty try and the hosts added another three points to seal their win.

  • MALVERN under sevens enjoyed success at tag rugby festivals in Telford and Droitwich Spa.

They won at the competition in Worcestershire by seeing off the hosts, Solihull and Bredon to add to their recent victory at Evesham.

In Telford, they finished cup runners-up out of 24 teams after going down 6-3 on tries in the final to Sandbach Phoenix.

Malvern won their first group by beating Crewe and Nantwich 6-4, Newcastle 4-1 and Newport Pumas 8-3.

Drawn into the cup stage’s next pool, they scored 18 tries in defeating Shrewsbury seconds 7-4, Newport Panthers 4-2 and Bridgnorth 7-2. A 5-2 last-four victory over Shrewsbury fourths earned the final clash.

Malvern’s under nines reached the semi-finals in Telford by showing skill and tactical awareness, eventually losing 2-0 to a much bigger Wolverhampton side.

  • Ledbury under 12s ended the season by winning their first seven-a-side festival at Cirencester.

Under coach John Ballinger, they have only twice tasted defeat and Ozzy Crosshoare went over for the winning golden extra-time try in the final against Minety.

Lee Wakefield and Jacob Wise had earlier scored against the champions.

In the pool stage, Ledbury beat Cirencester, Dursley, Bredon and Minety to go unbeaten in the tournament.