BROCKHAMPTON have clinched runners-up spot in the Birmingham League Premier Division with a game still remaining.

A 45-run home success against Kidderminster Victoria cemented the Herefordshire side’s second place and ensured that they could not be overhauled, whatever the result of Saturday’s trip to fourth-placed Himley.

“If someone had offered us that before the start of the season, we would have bitten their hand off,” said skipper Ben Stebbings.

“It’s a really great outcome.

“We were brilliant in the first half of the season but not quite as consistent in the second half which was largely down to availability of players.”

Against Kidderminster, good batting by Henry Langford (58) and Chris Boroughs (34) took the villagers’ score to 99 before the second wicket fell.

And then Chris Powell, whose half-century included three sixes and three fours, upped the scoring rate with help from skipper Ben Stebbings (24) and Jack Bailey (21 not out) as Brockhampton’s tally rose to 226-7 from their 55 overs.

“Chris has been playing with a broken finger and has handed over the wicket-keeping gloves to Jack Bailey at the moment,” said Stebbings.

“But he has been really reliable with the bat this season and I feel that, in the future, he could bat five or six for us. I know that is something he’s keen to develop.”

Will Barrett (2-40) claimed the vital early wicket of Worcestershire’s Ben Cox, caught by Bailey behind the stumps for four.

Former Herefordshire players Craig Wood (24), Andrew Kimberlin (20) and Jonathan Wright (19) chipped in with useful scores for Kidderminster.

But with Boroughs (2-28), Jamie McIlroy (1-31) and Charlie Griffiths (2-33) taking wickets regularly, Kidderminster subsided to 119-9.

A last-wicket stand of 62 between Christoher Whelan (37) and Gareth Williams (22no) raised some respectability for the visitors before Dave Exall (3-38) bowled Whelan to end the innings. By taking two wickets, Boroughs took his haul for the season to 50 which, allied to his 696 runs makes him still Brockhampton’s key player.

But with Stebbings, Langford, Powell and Exall all passing the 300-run mark and Griffiths, Callum Stewart, Barrett, Charlie Morris and Exall all with double-figure wicket tallies, the load has been spread.

“In the past, we have relied on one or two players but this season it has been shared around a bit more,” said Stebbings. “And that was something that we needed.

“Now on Saturday, it would be nice to finish off with a win at Himley as we never beaten them.”

The focus, however, will switch this weekend to Brockhampton’s second team who can clinch promotion to the Second Xl Premier Division with a win over Stratford-upon-Avon at The Parks.

“It’s important for the second team to get promoted as it is still a big jump in standard from second to first teams,” said Stebbings.

“We have had three or four younger players move up into the first-team for games and it’s been a challenge for them.

“But it’s a been a great season for the club with the third team also winning promotion as well.”