Kettering 27 Bromsgrove 8

Midlands Division One

INJURY ravaged Bromsgrove are staring into the relegation abyss after defeat away at their fellow relegation strugglers on Saturday.

Defeat against Kettering was the Boars sixth in a row to condemn them to their worst start to the season since the league format started in the 1990s.

Now Bromsgrove are in very real danger of relegation back to West Midlands Division Two - unless they start picking up vital points.

Directory of coaching Dean Ball admitted defeat was hard to take.

He said: "These are the games we have to get something out of if we are stay up this season.

"We started well but didn't take our chances.

"Our heads dropped when they scored a few tries and it was too late when got our second wind."

After defeat to fellow strugglers Walsall last week Bromsgrove went into the game at Kettering in desperate need of the points.

However, Ball was missing almost his entire compliment of forwards.

Bromsgrove were shaun of the services of Steve Blackburn, Mark Cornelius, Tom Churchill, Jon Chane, Dave Clarke and Andy Ford.

The one spot of good news was the return from injury of Matt Halstead.

However, after a bright start Bromsgrove were punished for their lack of cutting edge when Kettering scored several tries.

Bromsgrove fought back and Ali Hall touched down for a try, while Lee Wainright scored a penalty.

Ball was philosophical about the defeat.

He said: "We had so many injuries that it was always going to be hard to win the game.

"We are in trouble and things tend not to go your way when you are at the bottom of the table.

"But there is time in the season for us to get ourselves out of trouble."

Bromsgrove are set to be boosted by the arrivals of two players from New Zealand this month.

Ken Summerville and Scott Simon Scott are both set to be available to play in Bromsgrove's next league against Dunstablians on November 12.