Redditch RFC

Opening the new season on the grassier but sloping second team pitch both sides provided an entertaining tryfest for the healthy crowd who turned out. 

Sporting their new kit sponsored by Howden R dominated the opening quarter driving up hill but couldn't punch a hole in the solid T defensive line. A couple of chances went begging as R got a little frustrated and pushed too hard. 

Their over eagerness conceded a penalty which T ran from a distance scoring against the run of play. From the restart T ran the ball straight back at them and used their slick winger to score a second. 

Stunned into action R hit back, the reliable rolling maul came into action resulting in Joe Purvis scoring.

T built on the confidence of their lead and started to attack in earnest, a quick pick up and dive from a 5m scrum, then capitalising on a midfield error and they were suddenly 5-24 in the lead which hardly reflected the state of play.  

Skipper Will Spires, standing in as scrum half, kept his back line well fed. Elliot Williams at 10 mixed up play to keep the opposition thinking. The backrow constantly sniping and seeking the gaps whilst the front five played a more direct roll in punching holes through the middle. Rory Allen at full back came up with his customary try saving tackles

Joe Morgan restored a little balance, having be deprived a score with the referee unsighted he rounded off a smooth backs move in convincing style which Elliot Williams, impressing on his club debut, converted. 

Turning round 12- 24 down R had the slope to use and did so admirably with the majority of play in the lower half of the pitch, yet they struggled to break down the visitors resistance and when a dropped ball was eagerly pounced upon by the T centre he was away unopposed adding 7 more points to the score line. 

 R were not beaten yet, from a penalty tap Joe Looker barged over the line.   Cal Razzak scored a well deserved try for their bonus point which Archie Beddard converted which brought R to within one score of the visitors and the impetus was with them. But then another basic error gave the ball away and the T winger capitalised in style to run in another long distance try.

Cal Razzak gets some treatment before having the last word with a great try

With the clock ticking down R were determined to gain something from the match, another driving maul paid off with Stu Brookes grounding the ball and though there were flickers of hope that a try to at least draw the game was possible, in the end it was T who took the game out of sight with a final coffin sealing score. 

With some debutants in the team, a couple of rookies, including Player of the Match Jack Kelly,  some returning faces and some experienced heads missing this is a team in transition. They are looking good, some excellent attacking ploys and shifting the ball about more than previous seasons. But that can lead to increased errors which ultimately on this occasion was the difference between winning and losing. 
This Sat they travel to Kidderminster 

Man of Match Jack Kelly