30 Years Since Pilkington Shield Glory
If you are old enough you could cast your mind back 30 years to arguably the greatest day in Malvern’s sporting history, when Malvern RFC’s finest took on and beat a powerful Old Hamptonians side to win the Pilkington Shield.
This was a competition for the 512 most junior rugby clubs in England, and the previous season Malvern had done well to reach the final 32 stage before narrowly losing out to Old Northamptonians. Playing in North Midlands division 2, the team were having a good season in the league, having only lost to Edwardian, the league leaders, in the first game of the season. The Shield competition provided a chance to play sides outside of the normal fixture list, starting away at Birmingham Civil Service with a 30-3 victory. Another away game, at Warwickshire Police saw a late arrival as the bus driver was still waiting for SatNav to be invented, and having gone 11 points down early on, Malvern’s forwards showed superior technique and fitness to run out 30-14 victors. A rare home draw in November saw Bournville seen off 61-3 as Malvern ran riot, both props Steve Cooper and Chris Campion getting on the scoresheet with backs Rob James (3), Alan Johnstone (2) Gareth Richards (2) and Steve Fahey all scoring as 11 tries were clocked up.
Next up, a trip to Aylestone St James in Leicestershire, where Malvern had to win ugly against a challengingly physical side, Dave Green’s try and Dave Grundy’s 3 penalties and a conversion sealing the win. Another road trip, this time to Oakham in Rutland saw fortune smile as Malvern played the worst game of the run, but the home side missed 7 penalty attempts and Rob James’ try and Grundy’s penalty saw them through.
The 6th round brought Malvern’s second home game, against Wibsey from Bradford, who featured ex England captain John Irwin in their powerful pack. Malvern were on the rack for much of the game and trailing 3-13 and the 750 strong crowd were resigned to going out of the competition. The players had other ideas, and a superb arcing run by Rob James brought them back into the game. James put winger Alan Johnstone in for a try, Grundy converted and Malvern were ahead. A last minute Grundy try was the icing on the cake and the cue for a night of celebrations to remember with an opposition who quickly got over their disappointment!
With the reality of a quarter final against league leaders Edwardian at their Solihull ground keeping Twickers within tantalising reach, Malvern faced a strong side on a paddy field of a pitch. With their normal running game impossible, Malvern went down to 3 penalties in the opening quarter, but started adapting to the conditions with locks Andy McKelvie and Adrian McBurney controlling the line out and putting them on the offensive, This resulted in two successful penalties from Dave Grundy for a 9-6 score at the break.With most of the second half played in the Somme-like midfield skipper Andy Ridley and Mark Wolfe disrupted Ed’s half backs and Steve Fahey dealt admirably with a succession of high kicks. With 10 minutes left Grundy brought Malvern level with a third penalty and into extra time. With the away side going through in the event of a draw Malvern hung on, encouraged by the large band of supporters and the final whistle was greeted with scenes of delight. They were in the semi-final!
Off to Coundon Road, Coventry’s famous old ground and Hucclecote Old Boys, who had to cancel their planned tour, not expecting to get this far! On a sticky pitch Malvern were on the defensive playing against a strong wind in the first half, Simon Dixon tackling like a dervish to restrict the opposition to just one penalty. Just before the break Malvern worked their famous “Bo” ball move from a scrum, Andy Ridley’s blindside break feeding Gary Henderson, who put Alan Johnstone in for a try in the corner. Hucclecote retook the lead with another penalty midway through the second half and Malvern were struggling to break down the stubborn defence. With minutes left Malvern won a penalty from some distance out and Grundy once again stepped up to slot the points to put them ahead. More drama ensued as, with seconds left, the Gloucester side were awarded a kickable penalty25 yards out, but the kick went wide, landing in the arms of Steve Cooper. For a moment, the prop looked as though a 100 metre dash was beckoning him, but the cries of his teammates and the enormous Malvern following broke his reverie and he put the ball out. Malvern were in the Final.
Saturday 7th May 1994. Ask anyone from Malvern RFC and about 2,500 more from the town and they will tell you, unprompted, that they were at Twickenham for the 12.00 noon kick off against Old Hamptonians, who played about 3 miles away, so thought they had home advantage. The early stages of the game seemed to bear this out as the heavy OH pack seemed to shove Malvern around at will. A steamrolling driving maul took the Middlesex side deep into Malvern territory and won a penalty which centre Prichard slotted over for a slender 3-0 half time lead. Malvern reverted to type in the second half, opening up play with their trademark running game and were rewarded when Dave Grundy skipped past his tackler to run in the only try of the match. OH retook the lead with another penalty, but on the hour mark Malvern forced a penalty of their own, Grundy stepped up, the kick went over and Malvern had a lead to which they clung like limpets until the final whistle. It was a fantastically well won game, played in true sporting rugby tradition, which was more than could be said for the Bath v Leicester game which followed, The spectacle of so many England international players fighting their way through 80 minutes had large numbers of the crowd chanting “Bring back Malvern”!
Article by Peter Woods!
The club will celebrate the anniversary at Presidents Day on Saturday the 11th of May at Spring Lane, Tickets are still available via the link below:
https://malvern-rugby-club.myshopify.com/products/presidents-day-pilkington-shield-celebration-saturday-11th-may