IT has been a season of transition for Malvern following relegation from National Three South West and they now want to secure their Midlands One West spot before targeting a promotion push next term.

Malvern spokesman Peter Woods explained: “We are aiming for a mid-table finish and, if we can do that in this consolidation season, then next year we can try to go for promotion.

“Hopefully, one or two of our successful under 17s side will be ready to step up to senior rugby and our ultimate aim is to become a homegrown club.

“Our under 16s look very strong too, possibly even better than the under 17s, and we just need to make sure we keep them at the club.”

Malvern can take a big step towards the middle of the division by turning over their second-from-bottom visitors this weekend.

Woods said: “I understand we should be reasonably strong tomorrow, but we are still waiting on a couple of fitness reports on Alan Keylock and Nick Miller, who took a heavy knock to his knee last weekend.

“We are looking forward to a good result against Old Laurentians.

“We should have beaten them at their place earlier in the season.

“We let them back into it in the second-half with some sloppy passes.

“It would be nice to get all five points this weekend, but we seem to score most of our points in the first-half of matches and then fail to kill sides off.”

He added: “The way we bounced back from the heavy defeat at Lichfield by beating Whitchurch last weekend has had a really good effect on the squad.

“We put a much stronger side out last weekend, but also the team’s attitude was much more pleasing.

“We controlled the game even though we were defending quite a lot — in the second period, Whitchurch hardly got out of their own half.”

  • Malvern’s Spring Lane ground hosts the Premiership Rugby Under 18 Academy League clash between Worcester and Gloucester on Saturday, December 21, at noon with free entry for spectators.