Bromsgrove 12,

Nuneaton 24

BROMSGROVE gave a spirited performance against a high flying Nuneaton side but were ultimately beaten by a team who were better on the day.

Conditions were excellent at Finstall Park, the pitch looked a treat and the weather was kind.

The visitors started the stronger of the two, putting pressure on the home line from the outset, and were rewarded with a penalty given for offside after five minutes, which fly half Joe Wilson converted.

Town had the chance to level the scores shortly afterwards but Jon Critchlow’s attempt missed the target. Ten minutes later, Nuneaton extended their lead when a loose kick by Town was fielded well and a counter launched, culminating in a Nuns score for winger Elliot Brown.

Grove upped their game at this point, with the pack, well-led by Phil Horton, making inroads, and scrum half Will Harris playing lively.

But it took a solo effort by left wing Kieron Walton to breach the defence, as his scything diagonal run culminated with a score on the right.

The rest of the half was evenly contested, with Nuns adding a penalty, but Grove crept in front before half time with a superb opportunist try by Harris and converted by Critchlow.

The second half belonged to the visitors, with the home lineout misfiring.

Bromsgrove were also the victims of some strange refereeing decisions but that shouldn’t detract from the visitors, who were the better side.

Their defeat was sealed when Nuneaton scored two well-taken tries after good passages of play by the hosts broke down.