BOTTOM club Stoke-on-Trent were determined to exploit home field advantage on Sunday and gave the visiting league leaders a tough match on a rain- sodden pitch.

Stoke-on-Trent RFC Firsts 15

Bromsgrove RFC Firsts 18

Midlands Two West

Bromsgrove had a splendid Matt Birch penalty kick at the death to thank for snatching a win.

Town had selection problems compounded by injuries during the game to centre Adrian Parsons and scrum half Rob Marshall.

The visitors were under early pressure but managed some useful attacks.

Stoke were offside during a Bromsgrove sally but Birch unexpectedly missed a 23-metre penalty.

Within two minutes, a quick tap penalty was carried on by captain Andy Bridge.

He found replacement Colt James Waddy who made space to outflank the defence and score a try in the right corner.

During the conversion attempt, the ball fell off the tee and a quickly contrived Birch drop goal attempt went wide.

Stoke had no reliable place-kicker and this proved decisive. Home full back Rick Christopherson seized on a mistake and ran on behind the posts but the easy conversion was missed.

Bromsgrove's forwards raised their game - with Ian Young playing exceptionally - and second row Jon Taylor got over the try line.

But the effort was disallowed because of an alleged double movement after the tackle.

Birch kicked an 18-metre penalty near the end of the first half for a slender lead.

With enforced changes, Town were soon under pressure and an unconverted try by Ben Cole followed an interception. Stoke flanker Nick Atkinson exposed another error and his unconverted try in the right corner opened up a seven-point lead.

Bromsgrove dug in and Taylor drove on from a lineout to score. The try was converted by Birch to level the scores.

Near full time a Stoke scrum on their five-metre line was held and they broke away but a player was penalised leaving a 38-metre penalty goal chance.

It was sweetly struck by Birch and Bromsgrove celebrated a narrow win.