WITH the weather and the pitch both heavy and threatening, it didn’t look much like a day to be watching rugby from the sidelines at Spring Lane, as Malvern thrashed Shrewsbury 81-0.

However, an under-strength Shrewsbury played a full part in an entertaining game as Malvern hit top form to make light of the conditions in the RFU Midlands Intermediate Cup second-round tie.

From the kick-off, it was all Malvern as they put in several attacks to stretch the Shropshire side’s defence, ultimately winning a penalty which Ben King put over.

From the restart, Malvern ran the ball from defence but knocked it on.

However, Richard Hobbs, who has grown into the hooker’s position as the season has progressed, took a strike against the head.

Richard Fleming and George Withers put in good runs before Malvern, mocking the slippery conditions, put in a display of handling, which saw Grant Fraser and Laurie Essenhigh feed lock Dave Smith for his second try of the season.

The Spring Lane side were now approaching top gear with the back row of James Redfearn, Will Gough and Liam Roleston sniping away at any Shrewsbury threat.

Essenhigh and Joe Budd put out quick ball for the backs to Fleming, who used his size and stride to break the line, while King and wingers Tom Hale and Connor Giggle were at their probing best.

Winning a penalty after a brief flurry of handbags, Malvern took a tap penalty and King went through to score.

Then the forwards put in a controlled 30-metre driving maul before the ball went quickly out to Hale, who outpaced the defence to go over with King converting.

With Malvern now in overdrive, they ran the ball from their own 22-metre area, Hale making 40 metres headway before feeding Fleming who went over to give King a simple conversion.

With his side running rampant, skipper Luke Milton joined in the fun and took the ball deep into visiting territory before freeing it for Hobbs to get in on the scoring action with an outrageous swallow dive to score. King’s extras made it 34-0 at the break.

The second half began with Malvern collecting from their own kick off, Redfearn driving on and feeding George Withers for the opening score of the period, King adding the conversion.

Charles Rambridge, on for Fraser, put in a fine barrelling run to set up another Fleming score and King’s conversion before Essenhigh put the score over for the half-century.

Redfearn’s pick and go then set up Roleston, who put in a powerful run-in to add to the total as King again put over the conversion.

Shrewsbury, who never gave up all afternoon, put in a couple of attacks which took them close to the Malvern line, but the home defence were determined not to be breached and cleared the danger.

They then retaliated by clearing to the Shrewsbury five-metre line, forcing a line-out from which Smith went over for his second of the day from the catch-and-drive move.

King again added the extra two points, then from the restart Rambridge took on, fed Smith and Essenhigh was on hand to score and give King another easy conversion.

The diminutive scrum-half was again on hand to end the try scoring for the day with a converted effort.