Sandbach 30, Bromsgrove 31

NERVELESS Jon Critchlow bagged a penalty as Bromsgrove made it back-to-back wins in the National Three Midlands.

The Boars produced a stirring fight back in Cheshire, as they battled back from a 17-8 half-time deficit.

Cricthlow made sure of the win as he converted the decisive final kick of the match.

Dan Prottherough's side suffered a set-back when lock Matt Edgar suffered a hamstring injury in the pre-match warm up, while captain Paul Norris was restored to the starting line-up.

Tom Hunt handed the Boars a good start when Tom Hunt dodged his way past three defenders to score a great team try, which Critchlow.

Sandback edged ahead with a converted touch down.

A Benny Elliott penalty increased the host's lead before a breakaway try after Hunt had spilled the ball handed Sandbach a 17-5 advantage.

Critchlow kept his side in the game with a conversion before the break.

Bromsgrove started the second half by gathering possession from the restart and forging up the pitch.

However the referee was staring to make his presence felt and adjudged James Lloyd Jones to have held on too long.

A quick tap penalty saw the home side advance down the pitch and once again the referee awarded them a penalty which was converted to stretch them further into the lead for a 20-8 scoreline.

But the visitors dug deep and started to use the ball they had won.

Critchlow slotted over another penalty to bring the visitors back into the match at 20-11.

Hunt then wriggled his way across the try line for a well deserved score and Critchlow improved it with the extras.

Bromsgrove used the rolling substitutes rule to bring on Bobby Green to help them dominate the scrums.

However it was the forwards who were responsible for conceding the penalty, which Elliot put away to make the score 23-18 to Sandbach.

Once again the away side responded well and Cricthlow scored another three points to make it 23-21.

The hosts then scored a well-taken try by Elliott to take a seemingly unassailable 30-21 lead.

But with minutes to go in the match the Boars earned a penalty try after thepack had shoved their way over the try line only for the scrum half to infringe.

In the final seconds, the Sandbach scrum was again put under intense pressure as Green came off the bench to add his weight, and once again the Sandbach half back gave away a penalty.

Critchlow banged it over to give the visitors a fantastic away win with the last kick of the match.