BROMSGROVE RFC were edged out 27-25 in a top of the table thriller against Dudley Kingswinford as the Boars missed a late conversion to level the scores.
The Boars trailed by 19 points at the half-hour mark following an early Dudley blitz only for second-half tries from Robert Green, Callum Megram and Tom Sadler to bring Bromsgrove back into the contest.
However, replacement fly half Jake Attwell was unable to convert a difficult kick following the Boars third try in the final few minutes at Finstall Park as Bromsgrove’s remarkable comeback attempt fell just short.
The result means Bromsgrove drop to second in the Regional 1 Midlands table, three points behind Dudley who have two games in hand.
Dudley took an 11th minute lead courtesy of Samuel Vaughan’s penalty before Stefan Shillingford crossed four minutes later for the game’s first try with the former adding the extras.
And despite Will Harris kicking a penalty in response for Bromsgrove, Dudley scored two tries in the space of four minutes, one of which was converted, as Joseph Heatley and Tom Walker both touched down to put the visitors in command.
Attwell came off the bench in the first half to kick Bromsgrove’s second penalty of the half as the Boars were faced with a 16-point deficit at the break.
However, the Boars made the perfect start to the second period when Green crossed on 42 minutes with Attwell adding the exras.
And the home side scored their second try on 57 minutes through Megram as Attwell’s second conversion closed the gap to just two points.
Dudley scored their bonus point try when Walker crossed for his second of the afternoon on 67 minutes but the conversion was missed to leave Bromsgrove in need of a converted try.
And the Boars struck with three minutes left to play when Sadler dove over near the right-hand touchline only for Attwell to miss a difficult conversion attempt to gasps from the home crowd.
Dudley needed no invitation to clear the ball into touch to bring an end to an absorbing contest as the Boars suffered just their second home defeat of the season.
Bromsgrove are next in action at home to Bridgnorth on Saturday, February 4 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Finstall Park.
