RESURGENT Bromsgrove hosted second placed Longton who were playing National League rugby last season.

Boasting a massive pack and fast strong backs Longton's game plan was to bully the lighter weight home XV.

Their failure to so do and return to Stoke on the receiving end of a comprehensive 17 points defeat reflected the Boars resolve and mental strength throughout, allied to an outstanding kicking game from home fly half Matt Birch.

In what was essentially an overall team performance of great discipline scrum half Lee Ward, making his league debut, and full back James Lloyd-Jones stood out amongst the backs, while Richard Arnold was outstanding in the front row.

The die was cast in the opening five minutes as Bromsgrove took the immediate initiative with strong attacking play resulting in a successful Birch penalty as their opponents killed the ball.

The Finstall Park side continued to play with confidence and take the game to the opposition, running Longton's big pack around and never allowing their elevated opponents to impinge their style of play.

Even the loss of Tom Churchill with a badly gashed eye and Dan Cheasham with a neck injury did nothing to disturb their resolve with replacements Mark Cornelius and Mike Lammas dove-tailing well into the home pack.

Home team pressure was maintained and in the 25th minute Longton were penalised for going over the top following a hard hit on the visitors full back and allowing Birch to double the lead.

Two minutes later forward pressure resulted in turnover ball from which Birch chipped to Richard Stockholm who fed Lames Lloyd-Jones who straightened and ran in from the 22 with Birch adding the conversion.

By this stage Longton were playing catch up rugby and although their right wing Lochee-Bain grabbed an opportunistic try Birch launched two further long range missiles to maintain the status quo and a 19 - 5 half-time lead.

Bromsgrove, playing with flair and spirit, further increased their advantage following the restart with Dan Ott slicing through the visitors midfield defence for a converted try.

Although Longton soon replied with five points through replacement centre Rawlings a seventh successful Birch kick maintained the home side's point's cushion.

Thwarted by Bromsgrove's display of 15 man rugby the visitors lost their discipline and were duly sanctioned by RFU referee Fred Copestake who maintained his authority throughout.

There was a steady procession of four offenders to the Longton sin-bin giving Birch the opportunity of adding two more penalties. Although Longton did score a late consolation try there was no way back for them and this, Bromsgrove's best performance of the season so far, catapulted them into fifth position in a highly competitive division.