Bromsgrove 33 Rugby Lions 50

Midlands Division One

BUOYANT Bromsgrove ended their Finstall Park fixtures with a flourish as they pushed champions Rugby Lions all the way on Saturday in the Midlands Division One.

The Boars belittled their status as the division's bottom side by matching Rugby Lions for much of the game before the champion's produced a fine second half to win the clash.

Despite not ending the club's 21 match losing run in the division head coach Iain Hall was full of praise for his side.

He said: "The players were magnificent. Everyone of them played really well.

"You couldn't tell it was the bottom side playing the champions.

"Finally the players are taking what they have learned on the training ground into games.

"All the player's confidence is up and I only wish that there was more of the season left."

The only draw back to Saturday's performance was an injury to Simon Scott, who suffered a broken arm while stretching his arm for the try line.

Scott will not be available for the rest of the season after breaking his arm and dislocating his shoulder. Despite the set back Bromsgrove came out all guns blazing against the leaders and ran in four tries in the first half to take a 26-14 lead into the second period.

While Rugby's greater class showed the Boars continued to work hard and make sure the Lions had to earn the championship.

Hall said: "It was a brilliant display, we gave Rugby a game."

Bromsgrove's first team squad, who end the season on April 22 away at Dunstablians, are set to start planning for next season by holding a meeting tonight (Wednesday).