Saturday, September 20, 2003

BROMSGROVE'S cup run continues after their comprehensive if uninspired victory over East Midlands adversaries Stoneygate.

In a game dogged by over zealous refereeing Bromsgrove displayed only brief passages of excellence. Too often needless penalties were given away giving Stoneygate a lifeline that they gratefully accepted.

Tom Churchill made his debut as captain in Dave Clarke's absence through injury.

New recruit Danny Malin assumed the pivotal fly half role and goal kicking duties with assurance. He did not take long to get his name on the score sheet with a penalty after some excellent play from skipper Tom Churchill.

Winger James Robson made a welcome return and with a super solo score bagged the first try of the match. Catching the ball in midfield Robson ran and then punted a probing kick behind the Stoneygate defence.

The ball was fumbled allowing Robson to gather the ball and dash to the line for a try.

Robson's return was short lived as he suffered a serious knee injury before half time.

The game became scrappy with numerous infringements leading to Bromsgrove's man of the match, Richard Arnold, receiving a period in the bin for overuse of the boot. The sides turned around 11-3 at half time.

The second half started as the first has ended. Both sides struggled to secure the initiative however and numerous infringements by Bromsgrove gave Stoneygate penalty opportunities two of which were converted to leave them only two points adrift.

Stoneygate came within a whisker of the lead when, in their best move of the match, their winger and no. 8 combined and it was only thanks to a superb try saving tackle from Richard Newman that Bromsgrove's lead remained intact.

With 15 minutes to go Bromsgrove finally mustered a prolonged period of aggressive attacking play that netted them four tries.

New boys Danny Malin and James Lloyd Jones were instrumental in the first three.

It was Malin's elusive running, ably supported by Andy Bridge, that set the ruck ball from which scrum half Marshall broke in front of his own threequarters dummy switching with both fly half and centre. Marshall passed to Wainright who drew the defence and fed Lloyd Jones to score in the corner.

Another strong jinking run from Malin, this time supported by Churchill, set up young second row Carl Bradley for his debut try.

The third try came from a excellent timed pass from Malin to David Wilkinson whose powerful break scythed through the Stoneygate defences. The ball was then passed to Wainright, then Malin and finally on to Lloyd Jones to make it a brace of tries for the winger.

The final try was an entirely forward affair. From an excellent catch by Jon Taylor at line out eight-yards out the pack gathered round to drive the maul in an organised and determined manner over the Stoneygate line for Taylor to touch down.

Bromsgrove resume league duties against Nuneaton this Saturday, September 26, at Finstall Park.