THIRD placed Bromsgrove hit back with all guns blazing this week to blitz Hereford 27-3 in Midlands One West.

Following the previous week's narrow defeat to title rivals Dudley Kingswinford, Bromsgrove head coach Dan Protherough was desperate for his side to get back into winning ways and his players didn't disappoint.

In what proved a real war of attrition, Bromsgrove finally broke Hereford's resistance in the final 15 minutes by running in a hat-trick of tries.

Protherough was more pleased with the manner in which Bromsgrove successfully kept Hereford at bay, restricting them to one single penalty shot.

He said: "Our defence was superb and we effectively shut Hereford out.

"Obviously conditions were difficult, although I must say, the Finstall Park pitch is looking as good as I've ever seen it at this time of year.

"Eventually, our weight of pressure finally told and Hereford cracked to the point where we managed to get a bonus point win with the last play of the match."

Bromsgrove got off to a flying start when inside centre Ed Spalding sprinted over for a fifth minute try which scrum half Richard Mahoney converted.

Both sides exchanged penalties as play progressed with Bromsgrove leading 10-3 going into the final quarter before finally cutting loose.

Flanker Jake Abbot went over from a lineout to increase the lead before tighthead prop Bobby Green crashed over for a third try.

Replacement winger Bryn Williams then added a last gasp fourth try after being set up by full back Josh Holt, while Mahoney's boot supplied one more conversion.

Bromsgrove head to Leicestershire side Lutterworth this Saturday and Protherough warned: "We have to be really focused. Lutterworth are a different proposition at home and it will be vital to start well and keep the home crowd out of the game.

"We didn't do that at Dudley Kingswinford and didn't convert scores when we had the chance.

"When you have a period of pressure and fail to score, it does become a bit soul destroying. We need to learn that lesson from Dudley Kingswinford because we cannot afford to slip up again".