WITH appropriate foot and mouth disease containment measures taken at Finstall Park, Bromsgrove avenged their early season defeat at Hinckley with a converted try in injury time.

With Malvern clear leaders, Hinckley and Luctonians are now the only realistic competitors for the West and East leagues' second place play-offs for promotion to Midlands One. The latter may have the advantage with two extra games to play -- disease containment restrictions permitting.

Bromsgrove coaches David Stout and Dave Wilkinson emphasised the need to contain the proficient Hinckley attacking formations and these tactics worked throughout the game with fearsome tackles and challenges commonplace.

The home hooker David Hurcombe suffered an early shoulder injury and was replaced by Richard Arnold in the 20th minute with one penalty goal success each, kicked by visiting scrum half Will Newman and fly half Matt Birch.

A late tackle on winger James Robson gave Birch another chance but this failed. From their 22 metre line, Hinckley's speed and handling skills gave right winger Adam Dutton a clear run through and a converted try. Birch saw another penalty kick go wide before it was Bromsgrove's turn to execute a well- worked move from a set scrum which Robson scored for the try and conversion. Two more penalty goals left honours even at 13-13 at the interval.

From the restart, Bromsgrove's outside centre Wilkinson intercepted a loose pass and broke at least two covering tackles for a surprise converted try. Bromsgrove were judged offside frequently and Newman kicked another penalty goal to narrow the deficit.

Captain Andy Bridge celebrated his selection to the flank, following brother David at number eight to finish a good forwards' move with scrum half Robbie Marshall to score an unconverted try.

A late tackle and quickly taken penalty gave Hinckley number eight Dave Johnson an unconverted try. Following another Birch penalty, flanker Wayne Johnson scored a converted try to level the scores again. In injury time, with Bromsgrove pressing, Birch tapped a penalty and caught the defence wrong footed for a converted try and a 25 points personal tally on the final whistle.

Results: Second XV: Hinckley 62 Bromsgrove 12; Third XV cancelled by Hinckley; Fourth XV: Hinckley 60 Bromsgrove 12; Crusaders XV: Bromsgrove 22 Redditch Veterans XV 7; Colts XV cancelled by Hinckley.