A weakened Bromley RFC were beaten 32-21 at the weekend by the Aylesford Bulls.

Bromley enjoyed a fine victory in the league last week, but with a host of first team regulars absent, the visitors failed to record back-to-back wins.

While the back row of Matthew Hart, Michael Hazell and Michael Smith had bags of pace, bulk was always going to be problematic and it wasn’t long before Bromley’s scrum began to struggle.

The game’s opening try reflected Bromley’s problems at the set piece, with Aylesford pushing them off the ball and rumbling over under the uprights.

The Bromley response was immediate, however, with an Alex Weeks penalty making it 8-9, before James Powell managed to get on the end of a cross field pass to dive over the line.

Momentum had drastically swung and a yellow card for the hosts’ No 5 added to their woes, which were soon intensified when Kieran Leeper finished off a fine move to score and provide Bromley with a 21-8 lead at half-time.

The Bulls fought back after the interval and reduced the deficit when the fly half sold the dummy to score under the posts.

Bromley’s fears of a comeback soon materialised as, midway through the second half, a well-executed penalty was launched into the corner and the subsequent catch and drive led to a try.

This was followed by yet another successful catch and drive deep inside Bromley’s half which made it 25-21 to the hosts.

The visitors, dominated for much of the second period, created opportunities towards the end of the game but failed to secure the ball at crucial times and succumbed to soft turnovers.

And, in a last-ditch attempt to record some points, they were caught flat footed by a kick ahead and Aylesford were able to finish the contest off.

Given the changes to the side, a losing bonus point would have been a commendable effort for Bromley, but a poor second half left that outcome futile.

Bromley will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday as they entertain Park House at Barnet Wood Road.

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