DAN Protherough says Bromsgrove were unfortunate not to record an 11th Midlands Premier win this season after a second-half comeback earned them a point in a 19-19 draw at Kettering.
In a literal game of two halves, the Waverley Road hosts stormed into a 19-0 lead after scoring three tries, two being converted, without reply.
But a fightback of admirable proportions led to tries from Josh Holt (2) and Will Harris, who booted two of the three conversions, to claim a hard-fought point.
Boars director of rugby Protherough says his side did well to recover from their poor showing in the opening half, and were unlucky not to take victory in the end.
“We didn’t get off to the best start; we were slow against a team that are fighting and scrapping for their lives down the bottom,” he said.
“We were caught cold and there were a couple of tries where we were unlucky with the bounce of the ball.
“It was a case of getting the lads to realise that while the opposition were playing really well, we were off our game.
“We had to sharpen up, because every team in this league is a tough test. You have to turn up and be ready to go with the right attitude.
“Too many players were not performing to their usual levels, but it was a very different game in the second half.
“I think we should’ve won it in the end. To come back the way we did and go close to taking the points was admirable.”
With no match this weekend, the Boars chief says the fragmented fixture list is something which has been of great frustration to himself and his players
“Since Christmas, bar the three games at the start of the year, it’s been hard to put a run of games together,” said Protherough.
“It’s been a disrupted second half to the season. We’d all rather be playing, we’ve had too many scheduled breaks this side of the season in contrast to being slogged to death in the first. Everyone would rather have the additional week break before Christmas.”
If the Kettering draw has taught Protherough anything, it is the need to be more consistent and clinical.
“I think the realisation we’ve had as a team is that if we are to finish in the top-four next term, then we can’t afford to keep having these sloppy starts and making these bad decisions,” he added.
“We’ve beaten some big sides this term, but then we’ve dropped points against the sides below us and near the bottom.
“If you want to be up there in the league then you can’t afford to slip up.”
