Burton 36 Bromsgrove 25

Midlands Division One

KENT Summerfield bagged a hat trick as Bromsgrove refused to go down without a fight at strugglers Burton in the Midlands Division One on Saturday.

Summerfield produced a determined attacking display as Bromsgrove pushed the home side all the way.

However, while the Boars attack clicked into a higher gear, their leaky defence allowed Burton to out score them five tries to three.

Despite defeat the bottom side can take some heart from a performance that almost ended their winless run this season.

Bromsgrove took advantage of their opponent's slow start to win a Burton lineout and Dave Clarke touched down.

The try stung the home side into life and Tom Bartam replied with a penalty.

The Boars then went 12-3 ahead when a slick move carved Burton open and Summerfield touched down. He then converted the try.

Their opponents hit back when Simon Spence touched down and Bartam converted.

Bromsgrove found themselves behind when Bartram won the chase for a chipped ball to leave them trailing 17-12.

The visitors battled on manfully but could not find a breakthrough and slipped further behind when Ady Hales scored.

Ben Copson was only denied a try by desperate tackling. Bromsgrove's pressure paid off when Summerfield burst through the home defence to make it 22-19 early in the second half. Bromsgrove's opponents edged ahead with two Bartram penalties and added another try when he scored and converted his own.

Despite the try Bromsgrove battled on and Summerfield sprinted 45 metres to make it 35-26.

A proposed restructuring of the national leagues may yet save Bromsgrove from relegation at the end of the season.

Bromsgrove, who are anchored to the bottom of the Midlands Division One, could be saved from the drop to the West Midlands Division Two.

There has been a proposal at the RFU that the National Division One be extended from 14 to 16 sides for next season.

If the powers that be at the RFU approve this it could save the beleaguered Boars.

The current proposal suggests there would be no relegation in the National One, Two, Three North and South Divisions.

This would mean that two extra teams - to be selected from the North Division One, Midlands Division One or London and South East Division One would go up and two sides at the bottom would be saved from going down.

However, the proposal is yet to be agreed and is open to altering by the RFU's committee.

The teams saved from one of the regional divisions would also be based on which side has a better record.

Chris Burns, RFU Competitions Manager, said: "There is nothing set in stone at the moment and a lot of variables that could affect relegation and promotion yet."