Sheffield Tigers 42, Bromsgrove 41

BROMSGROVE produced an almighty fight back in Yorkshire in a game marred by a neck injury to skipper Tom Warren.

The Boars gave a Sheffield side who had lost just once all season in the National Division Two North a fright with a resolute attacking display.

It was even more impressive as the Boars suffered a setback when skipper Warren had to be taken by ambulance to hospital mid-way through the clash for an injury, which turned out to be not as serious as first thought.

The initial signs at Dore Moore were encouraging when two minutes into the game, Sam Gibbons scored from a driving maul following a lineout in the hosts half.

Jon Critchlow converted and shortly after kicked a penalty to put the visitors in the lead after only ten minutes.

But the lead was shortlived as Sheffield gradually edged their way back into the game, largely as a result of unforced errors, wrong options and yet again a poorly functioning Bromsgrove lineout.

Tries from full back, Peter Swatkins, and two from dangerous centre, Jamie Broadley, and three conversions and a penalty from fly half Ton Outram, established a healthy lead for the hosts with a Critchlow penalty making the half-time score of 24-13.

The game was stopped for nearly an hour when Warren was taken to hospital by ambluance.

But a young Bromsgrove side showed great character to fight their way back into the game.

A try by Kevin Salisbury, again from a driving maul, converted by Critchlow, brought the score to 24-20 and a possible victory was scented.

Sheffield responded with a try in the corner by winger Alex Graham, which was magnificently converted by Outram.

Bromsgrove replied almost immediately on the restart with a superb score under the posts by James Lloyd Jones, which was again converted by Jon Critchlow, only for Sheffield full back Swatkins to respond with another try.

Outram failed to convert, but a further penalty from him steered the tigers to a 39-27 lead.

But the visitors had other ideas and a try in the corner by George Glenn, again superbly kicked by Critchlow, narrowed the gap once again.

A further Outram penalty soon followed, but not to be outdone, Bromsgrove responded with a try from Warren Oliver.

Critchlow converted to take Bromsgrove within a point of the home team but time ran out when the final whistle blew.

Two bonus points were a creditable return from such a difficult fixture and should give the Finstall Park outfit confidence for Saturday’s home encounter against a high-flying Hull Ionians side (3pm ko).