BROMSGROVE RFC produced a miraculous second-half comeback to beat Kenilworth 41-38 following a dramatic last-minute penalty try.
The Boars trailed by 25 points on the hour mark before tighthead prop Finn Haynes ran in two tries in the space of four minutes, adding to Drew Harper’s effort before the break.
With the gap reduced to just 11 points, Ed Spalding’s lung-busting score four minutes from time set up a grandstand finish.
And a high tackle on Wil Llewellyn with the second row destined to touch down saw the Boars awarded a penalty try in the final minute as the away side registered 28 unanswered points to complete an extraordinary comeback.
Victory at Glasshouse Lane means Bromsgrove sit sixth in the Regional 1 Midlands table.
Kenilworth raced into a 24-10 lead at the break as Will Tanner’s penalty and Harper’s try just before half time, converted by the former, gave the Boars hope ahead of the second period.
The home side extended their lead with two tries at the start of the second half either side of Will Harris’s penalty to all but put the game out of Bromsgrove’s reach.
However, the Boars began a remarkable comeback when Haynes crossed twice in quick succession and Tanner added the extras to both tries.
And after the Boars turned the ball over on their own 22, Spalding ran in from 80-metres out on 76 minutes to score the away side’s bonus point try with Tanner’s conversion reducing the deficit to a single score.
Remarkably, the Boars struck again from the restart after Llewellyn pounced on a Kenilworth knock-on and ran to the line from 60-metres out with only a high tackle preventing the second row from touching down with the referee awarding a penalty try
There was still time for Kenilworth to claim the restart and camp on the Bromsgrove line as the Boars held an effort up over the line to record a sensational victory.
Bromsgrove are next in action at home to Banbury on Saturday, October 14 with kick-off at 2pm at Finstall Park.
Elsewhere, the club’s second XV claimed a hard-fought 13-10 win against local rivals Droitwich under the lights at Finstall Park.
Bromsgrove edged into a three-point lead with a penalty before Josh Miles crashed over for the game’s first try with Harvey Causer adding the extras to send the Boars into the break with a 10-0 lead.
However, Droitwich drew level with a converted try and penalty of their own just 12 minutes into the second period.
Droitwich hit the post with another penalty attempt and wasted two further chances to take the lead as Bromsgrove defended well after the visitors twice opted to kick for touch.
The Boars were then handed a chance to win the game with the clock in the red after Droitwich were penalised for a high tackle as Caused kicked between the posts to seal a dramatic late victory.
