BROMSGROVE began life in National League Three South West with a 31-16 reverse at home to Lydney.

Jon Critchlow provided all 16 points for the hosts with a try, conversion and three penalties.

Despite defeat Bromsgrove head coach Dan Protherough was reasonably pleased with his side’s performance against a Lydney side, who finished third last season.

He said: “It was a game we could have won and suggests to me we’re not too far away, especially as we managed to drop the ball twice when over Lydney’s try-line while one of their tries resulted from a blatant forward pass which the referee missed.

“But our lineout didn’t function well, even though we dominated in the scrums.”

The real test for Bromsgrove will arrive when they take to the road.

They face some daunting trips this season which include travelling to Camborne and Launceston in Cornwall, together with Ivybridge, Brixham and Newton Abbot in deepest Devon . They must also visit Bournemouth and Salisbury.

Bromsgrove have no local derby in sight as their closest club is based in Bristol and Protherough pulled no punches when he claimed: “The RFU regulations are ridiculous but we cannot let it affect the way we perform.

“We can cry into our beer as much as we like, but the reality is that we have to deal with it and the players have responded really well.

“The prospect of travelling long distances, when you have to set off by coach at 8am and don’t get back home until 10pm has impacted on some of the squad players.

“We’ve also lost last season’s skipper Phil Horton, who has returned to former club Droitwich because he has two young children and wants to play closer to home.

“It’s not going to be easy.”

Protherough gave debuts to 18-year-olds Matt Spriggs and Nick Empson against Lydney.

Spriggs, who has risen through Bromsgrove’s junior ranks lined up at No.8 while Empson, a product from Solihull School, operated at open-side flanker.

Protherough added: “I’ve still got two or three key players to come back from injury, but they won’t be rushed.”

Bromsgrove go to Bristol-based Cleve on Saturday.