A MOUTH-WATERING derby is in prospect on Saturday as Bromsgrove welcome local rivals Droitwich to Finstall Park.
Dan Protherough’s Boars will be looking to secure a Midlands One West double over the Monners after they won the previous encounter 31-15 back in September.
Bromsgrove also know victory would keep the pressure on league leaders Newbold, who top the table by virtue of points difference.
Protherough said: “We’re really looking forward to it. Local derbies always have that edge and I am sure it is going to be a very entertaining game.
“This is the first time Droitwich will come to Finstall Park for a league game so I am sure they will be right up for it.
“However, it’s important we go through our own processes and do what we have done so far all season at home, and that’s playing good rugby.
“We have improved a lot since we last played Droitwich and I think the scoreline back in September flattered us a little.
“Droitwich were a lot closer to us than I would have liked and the scoreline did not suggest that.
“We did not play particularly well that day but it was early in the season and we have come a long way since then.”
Bromsgrove come into the game on the back of last Saturday’s comfortable 36-0 victory over Whitchurch.
Ed Spalding (2), Josh Holt, Sam Bastock and Drew Harper crossed the whitewash while Bromsgrove were also awarded a penalty try.
Adam Whiteman kicked the rest of the points.
Boss Protherough was pleased with the urgency and high tempo his players showed and could not pick any faults with the performance.
“The players did everything I asked of them,” he added.
“I thought we were excellent in the first half as we did not let Whitchurch settle down.
“We put them to the sword by playing some really great rugby and I’ll be looking for more of the same against Droitwich.”
As for Droitwich, skipper Josh Skinner says the Monners go into the local derby high on confidence following their 14-10 victory over Sutton Coldfield.
He added even if his side lost to Bromsgrove, the minimum he wants to come away with is a losing bonus point.
“It’s important we try to pick up as many points as possible,” said Skinner.
“The league is getting very tight at the bottom so these are the kind of games you want to be picking up points from, no matter how many.
“Derbies are always good to play in and even though we have got a few injuries, we’re really up for the game.
“There will certainly be some heart in our performance, that’s for sure.”
Matt Handford and Joey Roberts got the tries against Sutton while Chris Hooper kicked the conversions as Droitwich brought an end to their four-game winless run.
The result also moved them 11 points clear of the drop zone and Skinner is confident that gap can be extended further as the club seek to secure their status at the highest level of rugby they have ever played at.
“We targeted wins against Stourbridge Lions and Stoke but that didn’t come off so to beat Sutton was huge for us,” said Skinner.
“We were 14-0 up and although it got a bit close towards the end, the lads showed great spirit to give us the victory.
“The victory has put a lot of confidence back in the lads because after the previous two results, a lot of us started to question ourselves and if we were good enough for this level.
“Sutton are not an easy side as they were narrowly beaten by Bromsgrove the week before so the win shows we are capable of punching above our weight.”
