Bromsgrove 19
Burton 12
Midlands Division Two West

WITH relegation still a possibility, Bromsgrove approached this game knowing it was a must-win, and they held their nerve to hoist themselves out of the relegation zone.

The Boars' confidence is steadily improving and fixtures against top league sides are no longer considered out of reach.

In fact Town appear to save their best for the toughest opponents.

The Burton side facing them at Finstall Park on Saturday was similar to the side that comprehensively defeated Bromsgrove earlier in the season.

They had a large pack and a forward -led game plan.

However this time Bromsgrove were not physically out gunned.

Led by a front row of Kevin Salisbury, Richard Arnold and Steve Blackburn, the pack took up the challenge and competed well in both the tight and at the line-out.

Burton were first to open the scoring with an early unconverted try.

Bromsgrove replied with a sustained attack where third-phase ball was provided quickly to fly-half Duncan Roke, who attacked the line with a burst of pace and a deceptive show of the ball to score. The conversion was missed.

Bromsgrove's back row of Chris Morgan, Nigel Burrows and Drew Harper were excellent at the breakdown and managed to steal possession time and time again.

Olly Burton, back at scrum-half, had a superb game and capitalised well on the possession provided by his forwards.

However, Bromsgrove were most dangerous out wide.

Their second try came when Lee Wainwright spotted an opportunity to chip over the defence.

The ball was intended for Richard Stockholm who collected it elegantly and went over to score a try converted by Ben Copson.

Before half-time another Bromsgrove attack was held up five yards out.

Olly Burton whipped the ball out and Copson crashed through the defences to score a try that he then converted to take the lead at half-time to 19-5.

Burton hit back with a score in the second-half, after Bromsgrove had brought on fresh legs in the form of props Joe Baker and Alex MacIntosh.

But it was their only breach of the Boars' defence as the home side dominated the rest of the play.

Nigel Burrows was making ground from the base of the scrum and the three-quarters were solid.

Bromsgrove did not seriously challenge Burton's try-line but they did squander three eminently kickable penalties.

They saw out the game to tie up a deserved victory.

Skipper Richard Arnold said: "The lads are building an excellent home record and no one will be confident playing us at Finstall Park.

"The real test is whether that attitude can be translated to the away fixtures.

"A good side can do that and that must be our goal for next week when we travel to Solihull."