BUOYANT Bromsgrove breezed to their ninth straight win of the season with a 32-19 victory at Rugby Lions to remain right on top of Midlands West One.

But head coach Dan Protherough played down this latest triumph and claimed: "It could have been a great deal better."

Instead Protherough accused his players of losing concentration at times and added: "We should have won much more convincingly but we kept getting wrapped up in physical battles.

"There was a great deal going on off the ball when we should have kept our focus. As a result, it was a niggly affair with one red card and two yellows."

Full-back Chris Hooper continued his rich vein of form with the opening try while centre Ed Spalding and replacement loose head prop Ethan Priest adding their names to the try-sheet before half time.

The accurate boot of fly-half James Upton converted all three tries and landed a penalty for good measure as Bromsgrove led 24-14 at the break.

Left wing Josh Holt then produced a fourth and bonus point try which went unconverted before Upton completed the scoring with a penalty.

Protherough warned there can be no let-up from his players as they prepare to face Stoke this Saturday at fortress Finstall Park as Bromsgrove go in search of a perfect 10.

He said: "There can be no complacency. Stoke have just had a couple of decent results against Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton, so they will come brimming with confidence.

"It's important that we keep this winning streak going because we still have to play the likes of Burton, Dudley Kingswinford and Moseley Oak all away from home.

"We are taking each game as it comes and see where that takes us.

"But it would also be great if we could get a big crowd behind us on Saturday as it really does lift the players.

"The club is in a really good place at the moment and it can get better."