DMPRFC 62 v BROMSGROVE RFC 7

With the Executive boxes and the pre-match lunch sold out long before kick-off, supporters of DMPRFC, along with invited guests, provided tremendous vocal support for the team in their first league game at the Arena and certainly lifted the players, who put on a fast, open display of entertaining rugby.

Bromsgrove RFC arrived at the Arena, buoyed by the win, two weeks previous, away against league leaders Stourbridge RFC, but had last week against Leicester Lions, showed that they also have a tendency to occasionally switch off.

Granted, they will not have been used to the enormity of the Arena, but the same could be said of the home team, as only recently have they been able to accustomise themselves with their new surroundings and whether that was the difference or not, DMPRFC did not wait for the visitors to acclimatise.

The day was bitterly cold, but the anticipation of the game certainly warmed the hearts of those in attendance.

Four tries in less than twenty minutes sealed the result for the home side early doors, however, rather than sitting back, which could often be the case being so far ahead, the rest of the game was as equally profitable.

DMPRFC started strongly and a midfield switch saw winger Lewis JOHNSON scythe through the middle of the visiting defence for the first try under the posts after only two minutes had elapsed (5 – 0). Grant CONNON had no difficulty with the conversion (7 – 0).

Winger Chris McTURK added the next try, sneaking in wide out, but having the presence of mind to run in and score near to the posts (12 – 0), made the conversion easy for Grant CONNON (14 – 0).

Bromsgrove were finding great difficulty retaining possession of any sort during this early period and the pressure and pace of the home side was always going to pay dividends.

Centre Craig DOMINICK heralded his return to the team after injury, with a decent break, shrugging off the visiting defence, before again scoring near to the posts (19 – 0), as Bromsgrove seemed to have been ‘caught in the headlights’ somewhat with the onslaught. Again Grant CONNON converted (21 – 0).

Winger Shaun McCARTNEY scored the first of his four tries at this time, easily cruising past his opposite number for a score wide out (26 – 0). This time the afters were rather more testing wide out, but Grant CONNON, who was also masterminding the back line during proceedings, found the conversion no problem with an excellent kick (28 – 0).

As oranges approached, Bromsgrove mounted a reply, with a series of pick and drives in the red zone of the home defence. Initially repelled by stern defence, another good series of more of the same, brought a close quarter try near the posts (28 – 5), which was converted (28 – 7).

So at oranges, the game was in the proverbial bag and it was just a case of whether DMPRFC would ‘crank up the ante’ or Bromsgrove would respond after being ‘shell-shocked’.

At oranges, the crowd was duly entertained by DMPRFC minis in a short series of games on the pitch and seeing as though those same future 1ST XV players had applauded out the teams before the start of the game, they certainly deserved their moments on the pitch, adding to the overall sense of occasion.

As senior proceedings resumed, an early penalty by Grant CONNON (31 – 0) broke the deadlock after the interval, as the crowd hoped for more of the same.

DMPRFC then rose to the occasion with a deserved individual try from Grant CONNON (35 – 0), which he duly converted himself (38 – 0).

Hard running centre Cameron MITCHELL scored the next try after determined progress by his fellow backs (43 – 0).

Although both teams rung the changes at this point, it proved no distraction for the home side, as the best was yet to come.

A hat-trick of tries from powerful winger Shaun McCARTNEY, who had tortured his opposite number all game, then followed, which was well received by the applauding supporters. Two of these were added to with conversions from replacement Tom HODGSON for a thoroughly convincing 62 – 7 victory.