Redditch RFC

R came close to snatching a well deserved bonus point from this entertaining encounter when the last conversion attempt of the game slipped wide of the post. BC arrived as leaders in the league race, their young side keen to maintain their unbeaten run but it was R who opened the scoring. Having soaked up early pressure they responded in style, using their experienced pack and accurate touch kicks from James Mills they capitalised on a string of penalty awards with Sean Madden driving over to score. the conversion attempt from Will Spires glanced off the wrong side of the upright.

BC were rattled but responded in style, an overlap wide on the left wing, a breakaway into space from a midfield scrum and a cheeky cross kick into open arms gave them three tries, two of which were converted. But the overall possession remained equal, R dominant in the pack with Sid Allen and Joe Purvis bossing the front row with Aaron Atkinson, still trying to find his true position, slotting in as hooker.

In the back row the light weight trio of Clarke Parker, Tyler Monger and Jon Beale shut down attacking moves at source and provided a base for counter attacks from the ever active Joe Morgan and Rory Allen in the centres.

With the score at 5-19 at the break R needed to up their game to remain in contention, but within minutes they fell further behind when BC barged over for another 7 point try. The lively youthful back line of the visitors were looking to dominate the game, but R stuck to their game plan and we rewarded with a 2 tries and also had 2 close calls. 

The closing half hour was spent exclusively in the BC half, James Mathews and Sean Madden maintaining the forward dominance and the returning Takunda Kahwa at full back adding impetus. Morgan got more involved in the game with some jinking runs though the pack was the principal weapon. Mills was the first  to go over the try line but was controversially chalked off as being held up. Likewise Parker was held up after linking with Beale after TK had broken through.

After relentless pressure Joe Purvis was rewarded with a score which to Spires added the extras and in the dying moments Morgan rounded off a crisp move on the left wing, the kick slipped wide of the upright leaving R with no reward as regards points, but from a position where they could easily have imploded they had stuck to their task, built on their strengths and had shaken the league leaders. It was a very positive performance which should be used as a stepping stone to better results in weeks to come.

This Sat they travel to Wassell Grove to play Old Halesonians II with a 2.15

The Redditch pack drove forward all match