Boars aiming to keep it simple in promotion push - The Bromsgrove Standard

Boars aiming to keep it simple in promotion push

Bromsgrove Editorial 9th Feb, 2018   0

DIRECTOR of rugby Dan Protherough has urged Bromsgrove to keep it simple – and back their own ability – as they aim to step up their promotion challenge.

The Boars remain third in Midlands One West after battling to a 6-5 home win against Melbourne last weekend.

It was an old-fashioned contest in demanding conditions at Finstall Park but two penalties from scrum-half Adam Whiteman edged the Boars to victory.

Protherough admits at this stage of the season it’s simply a case of grinding out results to keep within touch of top two Dudley Kingswinford and Burton.




“Since Christmas, we have played pretty well in some very tough conditions,” said Protherough.

“I think there’s been a slight change in our mindset.


“Before Christmas we were probably too eager to over-analyse the games, to pick out what we were doing wrong.

“Now we’re just focusing on doing the basics right, being aggressive in our defence and working hard not to concede tries, and being confident enough to go and play the game we want. You have to back yourselves.”

Last weekend, the match against Melbourne became a bit of a ‘slugfest’ in the horrible conditions and though Bromsgrove failed to score a try they got the win.

“We didn’t play that well – the conditions were horrible with the rain and slippery ball,” said Protherough. “It wasn’t down to any lack of effort. The minimum requirement in any match is that you show the endeavour and we did that.

“We just lacked that accuracy and errors cost is the chance to score tries. Between the 22s, we played some good rugby but we didn’t finish them off.”

The Boars will look to make their most of their chances tomorrow (Saturday) when they head to bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton

They then prepare for back-to-back away clashes at Moseley Oak, who lie fifth, next Friday, February 16, and second-placed Burton the following Saturday.

Bromsgrove lie 13 points behind leaders Dudley Kingswinford, who played a game more, and five points adrift of Burton, who have two matches in hand on DK.

Though Rich Maloney is unavailable through work, centre Tom Millen is back in contention this weekend while the Boars hope Lewis Arnold and Tom Hardwick are getting closer to fitness.

A hamstring injury, however, is set to keep James Gunther on the sidelines for potentially the rest of the season.

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