Sandbach 35, Bromsgrove 18

BROMSGROVE faded away in the second half as they slipped to defeat in Cheshire to suffer their fifth straight loss in the National Midlands Three.

The Boars had been leading 18-14 but Sandbach hit back to score three tries in an error-strewn performance by both sides.

Defeat saw the Finstall Park side slip to ninth in the table as a once promising season continues to fizzle out.

The visitors fell 5-0 down early on when Benny Elliott touched down.

Sandbach were making the scrum difficult for the Bromsgrove forwards and they were getting more and more ball from this phase of the game.

A James Upton penalty cut Sandbach’s lead to just two points.

The hosts hit back and streaked into a 11-3 lead when Elliott tucked away two penalties.

Upton’s accurate boot kept Bromsgrove in contention but Tom Hunt, who troubled Sandbach with his pace all afternoon, sprinted into the corner to level the scores.

Hunt soon edged the Boars ahead at the start of the second half, when he pounced on a lofted pass to score a try under the posts.

But their lead did not last long as Stewart Butters touched down and Elliott added the extras to leave them trailing 21-18.

Luke Butler punished the Boars for conceding a double knock on when he crashed over for another touch down.

Elliott converted as the away side slipped 28-18 behind.

To make matters worse for the Worcestershire side, Jon Malins was adjudged to have prevented a certain score and was sin-binned, with the home side awarded a penalty try.

Bromsgrove entertain title-chasing Scunthorpe at Finstall Park on Saturday and an entertaining game is expected.