Rugby Union
Bromsgrove battle hard to secure victory

Huddersfield 12 Bromsgrove 14

National Two North

BROMSGROVE secured a hard fought and much needed victory at struggling Huddersfield on Saturday.

It was a much changed Bromsgrove XV who took to the pitch for the kick-off with the coaches including a number of squad members who do not always make the team sheet.

The players coming in stepped up to the mark well though and played a full part in helping the visitors, who entertain Stockport tomorrow (2.15pm), emerge victorious in what was a fairly scrappy contest.

It was certainly not a pretty game to watch between two teams struggling to the form and assertiveness of last season and it probably came down to heart and desire rather than skillset on the day.

Fortunately for them, Bromsgrove showed plenty of this and competed positively in all phases despite being on the wrong end of a few strange refereeing decisions.

The first two of these came early on when, despite appearing to have the upper hand in the scrums, they were penalised twice in the first eight minutes, both times offering kickable penalties which were converted by Luke Booth.

Bromsgrove got one back through Bar Bartlett but the bulk of the half was fairly uninspiring with Town maybe having the upper hand largely through the driving of the forwards - Dave Hughes, Wayne Cooper and Paul Norris proving prominent. The slight edge they held earned them two more kickable penalties which Bartlett converted to make it 9-6 in Bromsgrove's favour at the break.

As is their tendency, Bromsgrove started the second half the stronger and were pressuring the home line for long periods.

They eventually got the deserved score when captain John Critchlow picked a good line and blasted through the opposition to score.

It appeared to be the time for the visitors to take the game by the scruff of the neck but to Huddersfield’s credit they came back strongly and gave as good as they got, earning penalties on 60 and 70 minutes to get back to within two points.

Bromsgrove’s cause was not helped when replacement Steve Blackburn was yellow carded for an offence at a ruck but the 14 men held on resolutely to secure the victory.

Regional sport »