DIRECTOR of rugby Dan Protherough says lessons have been learned from Bromsgrove’s 36-12 defeat to Midlands Premier leaders Bournville last weekend.
After Tom Sadler’s opening try for the hosts was cancelled out by James Weaver, Ben Tibbetts scored a second unconverted score a minute before the break to give Bournville a 10-5 lead.
Adam Caves’ converted score for the visitors was responded to positively by Ethan Priest’s touch down, with the extras added by Will Harris, although the game quickly got away from the Boars.
Seven points from Mike Ho was added to by late efforts from Tom Burrows and Owen Williams as Bourn’s 100 percent record was continued.
Protherough believes the ruthlessness of their opponents was the difference between the two sides on the day.
“I think it was a close-run game, and for 63 minutes I thought we were the better side,” he said.
“They were more efficient than us, they won a number of battles and every time they got into our red zone they scored.
“Three tries were given away for silly incidents which cost us. But fair play to them, that’s what good sides do – they take their chances.
“The game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggested in the end. It was just a lesson for us in terms of taking our chances, and in conceding them.”
A trip to third-placed Bridgnorth on Saturday (2.15pm) means the tests do not get any easier for Bromsgrove, who are fifth.
But the Boars’ chief is looking forward to rising to the challenge, adding: “We’ll have played the top three sides three weeks in a row now.
“They’re all tough but winnable games. Poor mistakes have cost us in two of them but we want to be challenging these sides so it’s all a good experience for us.
“We can see that we’re not far off, but I think one of the big things that we’ve learned is the need to raise fitness levels next season – I think we’re ten or 20 percent off where we need to be.”
Drew Harper is the only doubt for this weekend’s clash, having suffered a shoulder injury.
