BOARS head coach Dan Protherough says his Bromsgrove side need to aim high next season in the Midlands Premier division, after rounding off their Midlands 1 West campaign with a 46-7 victory over Worcester.
Braces for Will Harris and Bryn Williams were added to be scores for Rob Hill, Drew Harper, Hugh Lockart and Ed Spalding – who has recently committed his future to the club.
Worcester scored with the last play of the game, but Protherough did not have too many complaints with how his side performed on the day.
“We were ok on Saturday, we had a quiet first-half, and performed better in the second.
“We dropped off towards the end and conceded with the last play of the game, but I can’t have too many complaints.
“Worcester came into the game on a good run, so to win the game was pleasing.
“Towards the end we tried too many crazy offloads, but all in all it’s been a very positive season.”
Victory ensured Bromsgrove ended the season with a record of 25 wins and a single loss all season, scoring 1,060 points for the season with a +777 points difference – finishing 19 points clear of second-place Dudley Kingswinford on 122 points.
The Boars ensured their 100% home record remained intact, something that delighted Protherough.
“We’ve said all along that we need to keep Fortress Finstall Park intact, and we’ve done that.
“We’ve scored something like over 50 points a game at home this season, and the last three or four weeks especially have been testament to the dedication of the players.
“They’ve done fantastic to stay focused during the last few games when we’ve already been crowned champions.”
The commitment of inside-centre Ed Spalding to Bromsgrove for next season left the Boars head coach speaking the player’s praises and talking up the importance of Spalding to his side.
“It’s fantastic that he’s staying, he’s been fantastic on and off the field.
“He’s very well spoken in the dressing room, and is always very committed, so we’re delighted that he’s committed his future to us.”
Looking ahead to next campaign in a higher tier, Protherough already has a target set out for his charges in mind – a top four finish.
“We like to set targets, it gives us something to strive for, you need luck either way whatever happens and we’ve had that by staying relatively injury-free all season.
“If we can keep the squad in good shape and keep most of the players next season, and stay free of injuries, then we can have another good year.
“We like to aim high, so there’s no reason why we can’t get a top four finish, I think with our current squad we’re more than capable of that.”
“The players have a couple of months off now, and we’ll get back into pre-season training in mid-June.
“We’re getting to the stage where the players have to start looking after their bodies going up to this level, but we’re confident going into next season.”
