Bromsgrove 19 Kettering 38

FOUR quick second half tries finished off any hopes of a Bromsgrove RFC First XV victory.

Dean Ball's side, with five players out with injuries, was beaten 38-19 by Midlands One title favourites Kettering at Finstall Park last Saturday despite being level 12-12 at one stage.

Kettering soon sounded a warning when they stole the ball deep within their own half and created an overlap to allow their winger space to run in from the half way line to open the scoring.

A break by flanker Paul Meadow, linked with Danny Malin, led to an infringement and Matt Birch kicked a penalty.

Kettering then applied constant pressure until a clearance from Birch was charged down by Kettering's number five and he carried the ball over for a 12-3 lead.

A Birch penalty narrowed the deficit to 12-6 at half time.

Bromsgrove, who welcomed back Ian Bayley at full back, started the second half well and an excellent passage of play between forwards and backs, followed by an exceptional break from Richard Stockholm, led to another infringement and another successful Birch penalty.

Kettering then gave away a fourth penalty from a line out after Birch had kicked deep into touch. The fly half made it 12-12.

Despite the level score Kettering were dominating the tight scrummage and any hope of a Bromsgrove win was dashed by four quick tries.

The first came from a long miss pass that was intercepted by Kettering's outside centre. The second came from excellent move between backs and forwards.

A Bromsgrove error led to the third try and the hosts defence was stretch for the fourth, Kettering's fly half scything through after throwing an excellent dummy pass.

Bromsgrove managed to grab a try towards the end. A line out ball was secured and then mauled by the forwards before being spun wide for Richard Trigg to finish off the move.