THE RACE for the Midlands 2 West (South) division title will go down to the wire after leaders Old Laurentians beat Malvern 36-14 to remain level on points with Newbold on Avon heading into the final match of the season.
With the stiff wind behind them in the first half, OLs drew first blood with James Orbinson powering over and Lee Hersey improved the score by successfully kicking the conversion and adding a penalty on 30 minutes for a 10-0 lead.
Despite being ten points ahead it was Malvern who did most of the running for the remainder of the opening period but the hosts kept their opponents at bay and no breakthrough was made.
The breakthrough came after a bullocking run through midfield by Wallis who set up Hersey to go over under the posts and the scorer’s conversion lifted the score to 17-0.
And three minutes later a Malvern pass was knocked on as they tried to break and Jon Bean was first to the ball before crossing out wide but this time Hersey’s conversion attempt faded narrowly wide.
The bonus point try was secured by skipper Olly Cowley after some good work by Grant Inch. Hersey’s conversion gave OLs a commanding 29-0 lead.
The balance of play changed again and Malvern’s replacement scrum half Essenhigh sniped over for a try from a quickly taken close range penalty as the game moved into injury-time.
But OLs hit back immediately and a strong run from Glenn Todd set up Bean for his second try of the match which was converted by Hersey to put OLs 36-7 ahead.
Essenhigh had the last word by going over for his and Malvern’s second try in the last play of the match but that failed to dampen OLs’ sprits as they head into a winner takes all finale at Newbold on April 11.
