BROMGROVE RFC First XV had two men sent off en route to a 36-17 Powergen Midlands One defeat to Whitchurch at Finstall Park.

Debut maker Carl Bradley saw red and Steve Phillips yellow during an ugly brawl at the end of the first half. Phillips compounded his misery with a second yellow, thus red, for a bad tackle early in the second period.

Last Saturday's incident marred what should have been a celebration on the day of the annual Vice Presidents' and former players' luncheon.

Instead, the 13 men were left hanging on and were fortunate to lose by only a three-try margin.

The visitors began briskly, almost scoring a try in the first minute, although centre Neil Maycock went over for an unconverted try two minutes later.

This was a wake up call for the hosts and an effort started by Andy Bridge reached fly half Matt Birch and he exposed a gap in the defence to dart through for his own converted try.

Bromsgrove's injury problems were not helped when an unwell Birch left the field with David Wellawize as a replacement.

Despite this, Lee Wainwright extended the lead with a try, running strongly from halfway and fending off three tackles. Replacement fly half James Udy missed the conversion.

Whitchurch began to regain the advantage in the second quarter with an unconverted try by flanker Neil Charmley. Scrum half Phil Mullock also saw a gap and dashed 30 metres for a try converted by fly half John Suckley for a 17-12 interval lead.

Just before the break, Carl Bradley, making his debut at second row, went to the defence of left winger Richard Trigg, who was involved in a scuffle, and was sent off for his trouble.

Steve Phillips was yellow carded shortly after.

Bromsgrove recommenced with real problems, but the temporary 13 men raised their game with Wainwright moving to fly half. Phillips then returned from his suspension as Suckley missed a penalty goal kick.

Lineouts were generally unreliable for both sides and honours even in set scrums. Whitchurch replaced their captain Richard Wynn with Dean Sadler at centre and Mullock quickly scored for the second time under the posts with Suckley converting.

From the re-start, Phillips was too fired up and received a second yellow, and ultimately red card, for a premature challenge.

Now permanently reduced to 13 men, and most of the half to play, Bromsgrove decided to keep the ball in hand, running forward at every opportunity.

But this left them exposed and Suckley scored two more tries and missed a conversion with Sadler converting the other.

Copson found a gap late on and ran through for and unconverted consolation try.

The Seconds lost 40-15 in the reverse fixture, the Thirds lost narrowly, 10-8 at Ledbury, while the Fourths crushed Ledbury Thirds 42-12.