Bromsgrove 31 Whitchurch 20

BROMSGROVE had to weather a late onslaught at Finstall Park to obtain a vital victory in the Midlands Division One on Saturday.

The Boars were reduced to 14 men because of injury and had to show their character to get the better of the relegation battlers.

However, it was a deserved win after Bromsgrove were inspired by two try hero Paul Meadows and fly-half Matt Birch.

Director of coaching Dean Ball was pleased with his side's mental and physical strength.

He said: "At the end we really had to battle, but it was all character building stuff.

"We were hit by a few injuries after I had made all the substitutions and it meant that we gave Whitchurch a slender chance."

Touch downs for Meadows (2), Richard Arnold and David Wilkinson saw off a spirited Whitchurch side that never gave up and batteld to the end.

Birch also proved to be key as he converted all four tries and scored a penalty late on.

But Bromsgrove were forced to battle a man light after Richard Stockholm went off after sustaining a shoulder injury.

The captain is now facing an injury crises for Bromsgrove's vital trip to bottom side Mansfield on Saturday (2.15pm start).

Ball could be without six first team regulars for the clash.

Dan Ott is set to miss the game with a hamstring problem, while Ross Baxter, Richard Stockholm and Richard Trigg are all carrying knocks that could keep them out of the side.

Compounding the problem is Ben Eason and David Wilkinson both missing the clash because of work commitements.

Ball is set to call on Dan Malin if the expected wave of injuries decimates his team.

However, Malin is not 100 per-cent fit to play and is waiting for an operation on his damaged knee ligaments.

Ball said: "We may have a horriffic list of injuries which effects the team. It means that I could really be down to the bare bones."