This was another entertaining game at Delves Road. The hosts fielded their usual 2nd XV, but included three first team players who had missed last week’s match at Sutton. Pete Fitzgerald played half a game at No 8, while John Pette and Alex Greenslade were both given game time at scrum half.
Bromsgrove, who nowadays play in a higher division than Walsall, took the lead with an early penalty. But the hosts worked hard to make progress against the gale force wind with Benson,Clarke and Hickman producing some very effective ball carries. Midway through the first half some quick passing saw Harvey Wootton breakthrough for a fine try from twenty five meters.Andy Hawkins added the conversion to make it 7 – 3. The final five minutes of the half saw both teams score tries. A series of good forward drives produced some quick ball for the Walsall backs. Weston timed his pass well to No8 Pete Fitzgerald who crashed over near the posts. Hawkins added the extra points. But the visitors replied with a similar score as they cut through the Walsall midfield to score a try which was converted..
It was a generally disappointing second half for the hosts. They struggled to take advantage of the strong wind and failed to get any worthwhile lineout possession. Bromsgrove, in contrast, showed that they had a very effective lineout as a catch and drive gave them the lead with fifteen minutes remaining. The hosts finally managed to put together some concerted attacks and it was Wootton who once again made the breakthrough with a fine try from thirty meters. Hawkins’ conversion made it 21 – 15. But, as in most games at Delves Road this season, there was more ‘drama’ to come in the final four minutes. Walsall failed to deal with the restart and the visitors produced a series of drives before cutting through the Walsall defence to score under the posts. The conversion gave them a 21 – 22 lead as the game moved into injury time. Somehow the hosts managed to regain possession and Naylor and Greenslade made good runs before Hucknall created a ruck in front of the Bromsgove posts. The ball was passed back to Hawkins, who in Ronan O’Gara fashion, dropped the winning goal.