MALVERN College and Monmouth School for Boys played a close first encounter in the new Border Shield competition at Ledbury Rugby Club.

The new competition acknowledged the strength of the school sides and the inaugural evening match, which Monmouth edged 31-23, was watched by more than 400 enthusiastic supporters under the floodlights.

The game started at a frantic pace with both teams having early chances to score.

Malvern’s attack from the set-piece was clinical with Will Lane, George Sandy and Nye Owen all making line breaks which they could not convert.

After sustained pressure Sandy kicked a penalty to make it 3-0.

Monmouth applied pressure and Malvern stood strong until a missed tackle allowed their opponents to score a converted try under the posts.

More pressure gave Sandy another penalty and he took the opportunity to close to within one point but Malvern lost Lane and Jake Preston to injuries before half-time.

The second period was as frantic as the first with both teams throwing everything they had at defence and attack.

Sandy was Malvern’s third back to leave the field with an injury but the boys who replaced the injured players stepped up to the plate.

As the game went on and fatigue set in, both teams scored tries and then conceded.

It was a nail-biting last 20 minutes with Paul Dohring, Max Taylor and Oli Garnett scoring for Malvern.

Sandy, who had returned to the pitch from injury, kicked a conversion.

Alas the effort was not enough to keep Monmouth from a final try and victory.

Malvern College’s master in charge of rugby Nick Tisdale said: “The game between Malvern and Monmouth was one to savour.

"The teams were determined to see the job through and Malvern gave it their maximum effort.

"This was an end-to-end match with very little between the sides in terms of skill and determination to win.

"We have all, as coaches, experienced highs and lows but this was very different — it was a demonstration of school boy rugby at its very best.

"We will look back upon the dramas of the match for many years to come.”

“Every single player gave 100 per cent for the Malvern team,” said their coach Billy McGinty.

"Special mention must go to Sandy, Owen, Oliver Millard, Nick Yeoward and Jack Bishop for how they led the team and never gave up.

"This was a great team performance. We congratulate Monmouth on the win and look forward to the chance to redress the balance next year.”

As a curtain-raiser, four teams of talented youngsters from Abberley Hall Preparatory School, Ledbury Rugby Club under 11s, Malvern Rugby Club under 11s and The Downs Malvern played in a junior festival of matches.