"For the past couple of weeks I've been coaching the lads about the use of space in Rugby: How to defend it, how to create it. This week it all started to go right. I'm so pleased and proud of them!" Said Malvern youth coach, Paul Ferguson after the successful trip to Alcester last Sunday.

Malvern's travelling entourage included 13 players and many parents as they took the mini bus to Alcester.

They outnumbered the home side by almost 2 to 1.

After a short negotiation, it was decided that Malvern should field two sides, which would play a triangular tournament with the hosts making the third leg.

Malvern Reds took the field aginst Alcester first.

They defended well for a few Minutes, and then fell into the old habit of ball chasing while in defence.

This resulted in Alcester running the ball wide and opening the scoring. However, new boy Eric Carlen and

Skipper Matt Wren soon started putting theory into practise by running tight angles with good support

play. they scored a try each before half time. They did not have it all their own way. A fine jinking run deserved the benefit of the doubt as he was tackled just short of the line, his momentum taking him over

and leveling the scores. After the break, another new boy, George Badger ran across the defence before straightening and going for the line. This drew the winger,a dn a perfectly timed pass put yet another debutant, Marc Ziegler over in the corner unopposed.

Then the fireworks started to explode. Malvern's handling was a dream. Fast hands, passing out of

trouble before the tackles came in, virtualy unheard of at this level, beccame the norm rather than the

exception and tries followed for Eric Carlen, Marc Ziegler and Matt Wren. The scoring dive by Matt,

would have made Will Greenwood jealous. Malvern Reds won 6 tries to 2

The next game was far tighter, as is to be expected when two teams defend well. Malvern Reds, as the

winners of the first game took on their mates, Malvern Hoops. Matt Wren opened the scoring following a fine run which included most of the team. The benefit of having played together telling. However, ever keen to learn and adapt, the Hoops came back with a clever

move of their own, creating a space in the middle for Josh Myhill to waltz through for the equaliser. Miro Van Rensburg was injured making a fine tackle which

prevented the Reds going further ahead before half time, but it only postponed the inevitable. Eric

Carlen continued his impressive performance with another well worked try. John Pykelett replied for

the Hoops and the game ended honours even.

The third match saw Malvern Hoops against the home side, and a start that was a great credit to the game

of rugby football. John Pykelett, having just been denied a try himself by the faintest of tackles

causing play to be stopped, weighed up the situation, looked to pass the ball inside to one of his bigger

team-mates and then turned and passes outside to the smallest player on the field, Alexander Sealy-James,

who used the space created by John to go over for a try in the corner.

Alcester, learned from Malvern, they pulled their guests from one side of the park to the other finally running wide to score in the corner.

Good defending, particularly by Dan Clee and Thomas Lennard, who played bravely despite suffering with

badly blistered feet kept the home side at bay. But superb handling set Malvern apart. In attack they

probed and pulled the home defence until space became available. Sam Beale found that space and crossed the

line unoposed to score his first try for Malvern. Alcester scored again before half time through their

winger, who showed genuine pace.

After the break, Malvern knew exactly what to do. John Pykelett spotted the danger, and snuffed it out.

Matching his speed against the Alcester winger, he won.

James Merley played a real captain's game and scored a second half hat-trick, and John Pykelett put his name on the score sheet, competing his own personal battle with his opposite number. Alcester scored a consolation try at the end, but it was too late to

affect the result or the spirit of the Malvern lads.

The whole Malvern U8 group excelled last sunday, so a man of the match award should go to everybody concerned. However, with a solid defensive, attacking

and, most importantly, mental game, the man of the day award goes to John Pykelett.