BREAKS in the fixture schedule allowed Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove RFC First XVs to rest key players last Saturday.

Both sides were without matches in the North Midlands Cup, giving Spa the chance to play Woodrush in a friendly and let Bromsgrove coach Dean Ball loan some players to the Seconds.

Spa, due to face Luctonians in the North Midlands Cup, drew 19-19 with their North Midlands One opponents.

And director of rugby Julian Bailey believed it was a useful workout.

He said: "We used the game as an exercise but we still wanted to be competitive and put on a decent performance. I was still quite pleased with the team we put out."

Droitwich, trying out some fringe players, scored almost immediately with Nick Godfrey getting the final touch down.

A series of errors from the hosts saw Woodrush take the lead with two tries. Spa's top try scorer Jamie Faulkener then drew things level.

The second half deteriorated although Woodrush did take the lead before Jethro Tedman powered over for Matt Blackmore to add the conversion to square the game.

l Bromsgrove were granted a bye to the North Midlands Cup quarter-final following the withdrawal of Pershore.

The cancellation gave First XV stalwarts Dave Wilkinson, Andy Bridge and Mark Cornelius a run out in the Seconds impressive 55-0 demolition of Luctonians.

Man of the match Richard Stockholm was electric behind the Bromsgrove forwards, running in four tries.

The highlight was a magical try created when Bridge flicked the ball through his legs to Stockholm who sped down the blindside and scorched over the line.

Other contributors to the tally were Wilkinson, who went over twice. Craig Jesson added a score for the side, skippered by Dai Young, and Bridge also got in on the act. Ben Copson slotted five conversions.