BROMSGROVE slipped to their third successive defeat of the season and second at home when they were beaten heavily by newly promoted Luton on Saturday.

While Bromsgrove opened the scoring with a penalty by fly half Matt Halstead, Luton responded swiftly with a couple of tries both converted.

The second try was the first for winger Adoniya who came off his wing to scythe through Bromsgrove's three quarter line.

Bromsgrove managed only one other score all match. This was an excellent try from Richard Stockholm who, on the wing initially, handed off his opposite number and then ran in from half way using intelligent angles of running in so doing.

Adoniya responded soon after with a break away try after excellent sustained pressure by the Bromsgrove side was wasted by a mistake that gifted Luton the ball.

The second half commenced with Bromsgrove starting 28-8 down. Unfortunately for the home supporters there was to be no let up as Luton piled on the pressure running in a total for the match of nine tries with the backs scoring five of them.

The Boars are without doubt in a rebuilding period with an extremely young side. However with injuries to several key players the lack of strength in depth in certain positions is being ruthlessly exposed by well drilled and physically stronger opposition.

Although Bromsgrove fought hard, Richard Arnold in particular, the fact remains that defending without the ball is a thankless task and inevitably if a side cannot retain possession from either the set pieces or broken play then pressure mounts inexorably and eventually the flood gates will open. The game finished with a 57-8 scoreline that had all at Finstall Park concerned for the forthcoming months.

Reflecting on his side's difficult start to the season, coach Dean Ball said that he needs to improve the quality of the squad if things are going to pick up.

"The game against Luton confirmed where we are as a team at the moment. We need to have an influx of new players to compete at this level," he said.

"All of the teams we are coming up against have recruited heavily over the closed season and we are struggling to compete.We have made some useful signings but we are finding it difficult to bring in players in the positions we need. We have fantastic facilities here at Bromsgrove and we really need to find a few players to match that standard."

Ball has cast his scouting net far and wide and is hoping to bring in two players from New Zealand. Kent Somerville and Scott Smith are likely to be joining the Boars later this month and both of them have played to a good standard in their home country.

Bromsgrove travel to Luctonians on Saturday (3pm kick off) in Midlands One.