DAN Protherough believes it will be a game of few opportunities when Bromsgrove head to Burton in Saturday’s Midlands Premier meeting (2.15pm).
The sixth-placed Boars have swept aside both Broadstreet and Bridgnorth in recent weeks, putting them firmly in the picture for a top-three finish come the season end.
While Protherough’s side got the better of Burton in a 24-14 comeback victory in October, the Boars chief has no doubts that a real challenge will await them at Peel Croft.
“They’re a good side, we’ve played them a few times – other than last year – and they’ve always been great games,” said Bromsgrove’s director of rugby.
“It’ll be a very tough game this weekend with the wet and windy conditions, it’s going to be a slug-fest.
“There’s a 90 per cent chance that the match will go ahead, but we know it will be about who can take their chances.
“It’s been a funny week as this was due to be the weekend off in the match calendar, so now we’re suddenly playing, everyone in the league is going to be missing a few players.
“It’s a case of putting together a team that we know can cause them problems.”
Bromsgrove have a real opportunity to extend their winning sequence in the coming weeks, with a favourable run of fixtures against bottom-half sides Doncaster Phoenix (eighth) and Kettering (12th) after this weekend.
Protherough knows better than to underestimate the opposition, and says his team will need to dig deep to keep the momentum going.
“It’s hard because as we saw in the last game against Broadstreet, there’s not a lot between most sides,” he said.
“Between third from bottom and third from top, every game is a potential win, but also a potential loss. So we’ve just got to focus on our own performances more than anything.
“In these kinds of games in this weather, we’ve got to be good at building from set-pieces, taking opportunities and being sure not to give away easy yards.
“None of the upcoming games will be easy, some of the teams we’ll be playing will be scrapping for their lives.”
Bromsgrove will be without the absent Will Harris and Drew Harper this weekend, while Jack Tharme has departed the club after joining the RAF.
Protherough has thanked Tharme for his contributions and described him as a “fantastic addition” since arriving in the summer.
