Redditch RFC

Again the score line does not reflect the grit and determination R put into this game. 

The bare facts; CC are top three in the league, R at the bottom end. R started a man short fielding 14 due to late cry offs, due to injuries they played the final half an hour with 12 men. CC had a 19 man squad they deployed to best effect.

The over enthusiastic cheers and celebrations by CC when scoring their second half tries was perhaps a reflection and relief that they had eventually killed off the kingfishers in a game they should, on paper at least, have won at a canter.

That's how it appeared to be going from the first minute when the visitors ran back the kick off and splintered the R defensive line, it was an ominous start. But instead of capitulating R dug in, started to fight back and made sure the visitors knew they were in a game.

The heavy pitch was only just playable and continuous rain achieved nothing but enabled players to wash the mud out of their eyes more easily. 

CC did score two more first half tries, one extravagant swallow dive was celebrated like a cup final winner, perhaps he realised just how difficult the job in hand was going to be.

R were not cowed, they drove on. Jack Kelly, Sid Allen, Mike Essex and Stu Brookes led the fight forward ably assisted by Tom Dickens and Joe MCcombie. Tyler Monger and Jon Beale supported the pack throughout and constantly harried the opposition. 

The back line was mainly made up of wingers with Harvey Habgood in an unfamiliar scrumhalf position, feeding his skipper Will Spires at flyhalf. The slowly depleting line of backs, Phoenix McCann, Harry Irvine, Rory Allen and Mathew Barlow stood firm.

R were awarded a penalty try when a neck high tackle on the try line dislodged the ball made it 7-17 at the break.

One would think that with CC refreshing their team and R losing players the second half would be a landslide, but far from it , R dug in even harder, tackled all they could get hold of and CC only managed to take advantage of their 3 man overlap three times, and in between those the R pack were able to drive over for a try of their own. 

It is not ideal to beat the wrong end of the league table but if the points were awarded for sheer determination R would surely be nearer the top.

On Sat R host Stourbridge III,