Bromsgrove 30, Old Halesonians 25

SPIRITED Bromsgrove turned around another 19-point deficit to stun derby Old Hales.

At one stage, the Finstall Park had been trailing 22-3, only to produce a stirring response for the second game in a row.

Old Hales had dominated the first 20 minutes and opened the scoring when Chris Hooper converted a penalty awarded for holding on.

Two minutes later, a horrible bounce deceived the home defence and was pounced on by Andy Robinson who scored.

The game became a bit frenetic and while trying to counter from deep, Bromsgrove lost possession and Hales ran straight back at them for Hooper to score by the posts which he also converted.

Town pulled three points back on 15 minutes when Jon Crichlow kicked a penalty, but the visitors scored their third try through Robinson, again converted. At this point things were looking pretty ominous for 'Grove with the visitors looking more accurate and committed in defence and attack.

But all credit to Town they shored up their defence and gained some sort of parity in the match and were rewarded five minutes before half time when Phil Horton crashed over to score with Critchlow converting.

Bromsgrove were trailing 22-10 at the break, Old Hales scored a penalty to extend their lead after Critchlow was sin-binned.

But they made a mockery of being a man down when Ieuan Mustow gave Horton his second try, injuring the latter in the process and while he limped off debutant fly half Ed Spalding kicked the conversion.

The efforts of physio Anna Curnow saw Horton recover and return to the field along with the binned Critchlow.

A Crichlow penalty put the home side within one score and two minutes later, with Bromsgrove pressing, Tom Hunt found a bit of space on the left wing and he skinned his opposite number to score in the corner to level the scores.

Bromsgrove were in control and Horton sealed the win when he wriggled through a melee from a drive to score and complete a memorable treble.