MALVERN Rugby Club are hoping they are able to beat the weather this weekend as they look to build upon an impressive away win last time out.

The Spring Lane outfit picked up a tense, yet confidence- boosting 13-12 victory at Stratford-upon-Avon in their last Midlands One West match.

They face high-flying Walsall this weekend on home soil (2.15pm) and will be looking to further consolidate their mid-table status.

Club spokesman Pete Woods said: “Against Stratford, we ground it out well, it was a horrible match with both sides making lots of mistakes, but we won away from home and that’s all that matters.

“The win was very good for the team’s confidence.

“We were fairly close to Walsall for most of the game at their place, despite losing prop Pete Sharp to a back injury, which he is still struggling with, early in the match.

“We also lost number eight Jamie Anderson early in that game, but we were able to stay in the contest up until the final 20 minutes when Walsall pulled away.

“We hope to give them a good game and Jamie should be back for the first time since injuring his foot in the warm-up before our recent game with Stoke.

“Alan Keylock will be out until at least next month after breaking a bone in his foot, while prop James Hines is also struggling with a back problem.

Adam Dixon has a shoulder injury that needs assessing, but if he misses out Tom Longley will continue at flyhalf.

“The weather might also have a big say in whether the game goes ahead or not as we are forecast a lot of rain.

“The pitch drains quickly, but there has been so much rain and the water table is very high, so it all depends if we can miss the worst of the weather.”

Woods added: “Our goal this season will be to try to overhaul Stratford, who are four points ahead, and achieve a secure mid-table position – we would be happy with that in this rebuilding season.

We will be losing some key players at the end of the season, though, including club captain Ieuan Mustow, who is doing a Marines training course and will be likely to leave us if he gets in.

“However, there are some talented youngsters coming through who will be old enough for senior rugby next season and we will do some recruitment of players as usual.