BROMSGROVE Rugby Club's lingering promotion hopes were severely dented on Saturday when they could only draw to lowly Lichfield.

It was an ill tempered game, littered with mistakes and tactical errors and with little or no free flowing rugby football, in spite of a good playing surface and reasonable weather. Only two penalty goals were registered.

Bromsgrove have now played three hours of rugby football over the last two weeks, with only one try to show for it, and that by a prop forward. Whilst defensive endeavour remained strong, attacking flair seems to have evaporated.

Bromsgrove began in fine, confident style and for the first 20 minutes dominated the game, but handling errors and poor support play at crucial moments meant that three or four good scoring opportunities went begging. Lichfield's confidence grew with every wasted Bromsgrove chance and half time arrived with Lichfield congratulating themselves on holding their opponents so effectively at bay.

With the wind behind them in the second half, there was still confidence in the Bromsgrove camp, but Lichfield's now bubbling 15 had other ideas, giving as good as they got with the normally dominant Bromsgrove pack. Eventually and predictably, having missed with three earlier attempts, the Lichfield full back Antcliffe hit the target and put them in the lead.

The game degenerated into a grinding forward battle in the middle of the park. On a rare foray deep into Lichfield territory, Bromsgrove, three points adrift, were awarded a penalty under the posts. To the astonishment of the spectators and the relief of the Lichfield side, they chose to run it to create an attack that was quickly stifled. Amazingly the same option was taken with a similar penalty a few minutes later.

Lichfield, with time running out, scented their second victory of the season and managed to find energy to turn up the heat and the pace. As Bromsgrove strived to contain the now buoyant Lichfield side, the travelling supporters were resigned to defeat but eleventh hour consolation was at hand.

Bromsgrove, capitalising on a handling error by a Lichfield centre, drove the game towards the Lichfield line and again in front of the posts, were awarded a penalty. The team was left in no doubt about the option to be taken by the howling Bromsgrove fans. Matt Birch obliged to level the score.

l Bromsgrove have been drawn away to Midlands One outfit Burton in the fourth round of the Intermediate Cup. The match will take place on December 2 and postpones their North Midlands Cup game on the December 3, which will now take place either on December 23 or 30.