HEAD coach Dan Protherough says Bromsgrove’s ten-try blitz of Longton has given his players a much-needed confidence boost ahead of tomorrow’s (Saturday) clash at promotion rivals Nuneaton.
Bromsgrove appeared to have lost their way when they suffered defeats to Hinckley and Lichfield in consecutive weeks to slip to fourth in the National Three Midlands table.
But they bounced back with a bang at Finstall Park last Saturday as they crossed the whitewash ten times against Longton, with Tom Millen, Dave Lewis and Jon Critchlow all helping themselves to two tries.
The Bromsgrove boss described his side’s showing as one of their best this season and he has now urged his players to repeat their performance against fifth placed Nuneaton.
“We turned up with the right attitude against Longton and put in a really good performance, so I was really pleased,” Protherough said.
“I thought our support play was excellent and we scored ten tries and missed a few other opportunities.
“We had the endeavour and the intensity to keep people close to the ball which opened up opportunities and when we had those we more of less took them.
“So, for me, that was one of the best performances of the season, but we need to build on that now. We have got two or three really tough games coming up, so we are going to have to play like that again if we are going to get results.”
With just two points separating the two sides, a victory would be huge for either team as they attempt to keep themselves in the promotion mix-up. Nuneaton will be looking to secure the double over Bromsgrove having beaten them 24-12 at Finstall Park earlier this season.
But Protherough, who is expected to be without Alex Woodward this weekend, insisted his players’ buoyant mood could be key to helping them triumph at Liberty Way.
“When we played Nuneaton at our place I thought they were probably the best side we had played, but they have lost quite a few games since then,” he added.
“It will be a real battle, but we have trained well this week so we’ll go into the game full of beans.
“We know we have got a tough run in until the end of the season, but we just need to keep building and finish this season as strong as we can.”