BROMSGROVE Rugby Club gained deserved revenge against their footballing rivals Bromsgrove Sporting when they won the annual 20/20 cricket match between the two sides.

Last year's competition was revived after a long absence when Sporting gained a comfortable win, but this year the rugby lads turned up with a better team in all departments to claim an 18-run success.

Jon Critchlow and James Martin opened the batting for the Boars and had a fortunate start as four byes went past wicket keeper Aaron Roberts on the first ball and survived a near catch of the last ball of the first over.

However, the openers went on to put 28 on for the first wicket before John Pykett bowled Martin for 12. There followed a fight-back by The Rouslers who then took five cheap wickets including two by Sporting's physio and Worcestershire Women player Emma Waters.

However, Boars' coach Dan Protherough got his team back into the match with an unbeaten 42 that included eight boundaries to post his team a respectable but beatable 138.

In reply, Aaron Roberts was not having a good evening and hooked the ball on to his stumps second delivery but John Pykett and Neil Leech made the Boars struggle as they moved the score up to 44 before Leech was caught out.

Avoncroft batsman Any Nicol scored a useful 16 but the real breakthrough was when Pykett was caught by Brynn Williams off Jon Critchlow's bowling for 45.

Three quick wickets followed for few runs leaving the footballers needing 22 of the last over but Dan Protherough took two more wickets and although Emma Waters scored a 4 with her only delivery off the last ball, the Rouslers remained 18 runs behind.

Jeff Rea, president of Bromsgrove Sporting, presented the winning trophy to the Boars on behalf of himself and David Wellington, president of the rugby club.