BROMSGROVE CC is set to take a huge leap forward in junior coaching after obtaining a national standard in child protection.

The St Godwalds based club is set to be officially awarded clubmark status by Worcestershire Cricket Board's development officer Stuart Lampitt on June 8.

The award will mean that Bromsgrove have completely adopted the England and Wales Cricket Boards (ECB) rules for protecting its junior members and will set the standard for looking after children.

Chairman Nick Husbands believes that the club's new status will help it to attract new junior members.

He said: "Everybody had worked very hard to make sure that we have reached clubmark status.

"It means when parents are looking at clubs to take their children to they know that the club is following the highest standards set by the ECB and that their children will be properly looked after."

Coincidentally Bromsgrove are also officially launching a new scheme for youth coaching in partnership with Bromsgrove District Council.

The Boars Academy has been extended to children aged between seven and 13-years-old and will be held down at St Godwalds from June 8 (between 5.30pm and 7.30pm).

For more information contact the council's sports development team on 01527 881315.

On Saturday the Boars' game away at Smethwick was abandoned because of rain in the Birmingham and District League Division One.

Bromsgrove struggled with the bat, with only Richard Barnes (24) and Nadeem Malik (31) making an impact, before they were kept to 128-8.

The Boars' opponents reached 63-2 in reply, before rain forced the game off.

Husbands said: "We were on the ropes a bit so I think we were happy for rain to stop the match.

"We were in danger of losing our unbeaten status, but we deserved a bit of luck."

Bromsgrove take on Smethwick away tonight (May 25) in the Challenge Cup. They then take on Walmley away on Saturday and Shrewsbury at home on Bank Holiday Monday.