Bromsgrove 36, Sutton Coldfield 10

BROMSGROVE gained revenge for their defeat at Sutton earlier in the season with an ultimately convincing win on Saturday.

Fortunately for both players and spectators the rain, which had been falling steadily all morning, stopped just before kick off and although the pitch was wet underfoot it held up superbly allowing both sides to play some enterprising rugby.

The Boars were awarded a penalty try early on after a player was barged off the ball when a score looked on the cards and Jon Critchlow added the converted.

Tom Hunt then crashed over for a touch down, which Critchlow converted, as he put the finishing touches to a well-rehearsed move.

Bromsgrove continued to dominate but were slightly disrupted when fly half Rich Mahoney had to be helped from the field with a nasty knock.

Critchlow moved to the number ten position and soon extended the lead with a penalty.

The pack were dominant with Phil Horton prominent, making ground and taking several defenders with him, he was well-supported by unsung heroes Ben meadows, Jon Malings and Bobby Green.

It was 35 minutes into the half when a Crichlow break put substitute winger Dave Lewis over near the corner, before Critchlow added the points.

Sutton did get some reward for their efforts hen fly half Alex White reduced the arrears with a penalty as the hosts went into half-time with a commanding 24-3 lead.

But in the game's final quarter, the Boars dropped their intensity and Sutton got back into the match with a try by Ben Toft.

But the game took a turn for the strange when the hosts saw Adam Whiteman, Chris Morgan and Tom Hunt yellowed carded in the space of eight minutes.

In response, the visitors attacked relentlessly but to Grove’s great credit they held firm, despite being down to 12 men.

Bromsgrove even managed to launch an attack and after Sutton saw a player carded, Dave Hughes went over for a bonus point try.

Town still weren’t finished a similar move gave Hughes his second score five minutes from the end to record a fifth straight win in the National Three Midlands.