BUOYANT Bromsgrove are sitting on the cusp of clinching the Midlands One West title after slamming Stoke on Trent 52-17 this week.

The Boars look set for a rapid return to National 3 rugby next season as their success over Stoke leaves them requiring just two more points to make certain of becoming champions.

But Bromsgrove head coach Dan Protherough was quick to play down their achievement this season and claimed: “We must just focus on the next game ahead in the knowledge that if we win it, we win the league."

Protherough was full of praise for Stoke and said: “The final scoreline was flattering for us. I was really impressed with Stoke who made us work extremely hard in the first half.

“We were 17-12 down at half time and it’s the first game since we played Newbold that we found ourselves behind at the interval.

“In fact Stoke started the game much better than us and were quicker out of the blocks. The first half went on for almost 60 minutes as Stoke kept giving away penalties when we were camped on their line.

“In some respect it was good for us, because we played much better in the second half and didn’t concede a single point."

Ethan Priest led the scoring spree with a hat-trick of tries, while Drew Harper, Will Harris, Oliver Wem and Josh Holt all crossed the whitewash.

Bromsgrove were boosted further by a penalty try while the accurate boot of Will Harris accounted for the remaining points in conversion kicks.

Protherough added: “This week’s break will do us good, because since beating Newbold, we’ve struggled a bit and I think we could do with a bit of mental freshness."

But Bromsgrove will be bidding the wrap up the title on Saturday March 23 when they travel to face local rivals Stourbridge Lions at Stourton Park.