The Saxons thus revenged last season’s shock home defeat and gave their points scored differential a crucial boost as the challenge for the National 2 North title goes to the final fixtures on April 26th. Though they must travel to Harrogate and secure another bonus point win, the Saxons’ fate rests largely on Darlington Mowden Park’s clash with leaders Macclesfield, where only a freak one in sixteen 5-2 league points carve up could yet deny them a top 2 finish should they end up with an inferior points scored differential to Mowden Park.

Bressington’s 5-try haul broke the club record that he previously held with Tom Richardson. It also took his tally for the season to 22, eclipsing Drew Harper’s record of 20 established last season.

Bromsgrove were first onto the scoreboard, fullback Jon Critchlow kicking 2 penalties in the opening 10 minutes as the Saxons were penalised for not releasing in the tackle. It wasn’t long before they settled though, opening their account through a Tom Jarvis run in after Pete White’s quick tap on Bromsgrove’s line. Bressington’s first try was created by White’s loop around fly half Sam Robinson, his long floated pass putting the winger clear with just Critchlow to evade. He was to secure his hat-trick in the space of just 6 minutes, the second try coming from a lineout steal and deft work by centre Stef Shillingford, the third following a break by prop Mark George and Jarvis’s well worked offload.

A promising Bromsgrove attack ended on the Saxons’ tryline with a turnover, Jarvis securing his 2nd try after joining a short range driving maul set up by Robbie Hurrell’s lineout take. It didn’t get any better for the visitors as they lost scrum half Aaron Higgins to the sinbin for cynically slowing a tap penalty, George then scoring from another catch & drive to make the halftime score 40-6.

The second half started with a break down the left by winger Jamie Hearn, setting up field position for White to link with flanker Nigel Mukarati for a short range drive over the line. An aimless Bromsgrove clearance kick was taken by 2nd row Ben Hughes and worked quickly right where fellow 2nd row Hurrell worked a well executed draw & give to put Bressington clear. The next Saxons foray into the visitors’ 22 saw hooker Scott Wright score his first try of the campaign after another well executed catch & drive. As the replacements started to arrive a neat interchange between White & Jarvis then worked space on the right to put Bressington clear for his 5th try.

The final scores were from a scorching break by replacement centre Gary Dipple and a short-range run-in at the death for Mukarati who spotted a mismatch in the Bromsgrove defensive line. Hearn landed 9 of the 12 conversion attempts to make the final score 78-6.

Elsewhere Macclesfield also secured a bonus point win and Darlington Mowden Park came from behind to scrape a late bonus point win at Luctonians. With the Saxons enjoying a week off over Easter, Mowden Park play their game in hand at already-relegated Sheffield Tigers and will be looking to claw back the 5 league points & 25 game points differential advantage the Saxons currently enjoy over them. National 2 North is going to the wire.