Sat 11 Jan 2020, 14:00
Redditch's steady climb up the table continued on Saturday with a comprehensive defeat of the team who lay second, that position is now the Kingfishers to cement when they travel to Bishop's Castle this weekend for their previously postponed game.
Inevitably this was going to be a harder game than their last couple of outings, the opening exchanges showed both sides meant business with the forwards testing each other out legally and otherwise. Penalties were exchanged by both sides as they tested out the referee and themselves and the game of tactical chess played its self out.
It was the visitors who had the first significant play of the match, their outside centre was released in space, his impressive speed took him past the floundering tacklers for an unconverted try.
The skies were grey with a touch of drizzle with a strong breeze at Five Ways back which they seemed unable to take advantage of. At one point they defied the elements when a sliced kick went backwards into the headwind, Josh Kearney was first to react, gathering the stray ball and having broken through two tackles he was felled by the third just inches from the line. From the ensuing restart Redditch turned the ball over, moved it impressively left and right spreading the defence until skipper Matt Allen saw his chance and sped through the yawning gap. In form Will Spires added the extra two points.
There were not many highlights in the first half, Chris Upton at lock had a storming run through the middle scattering tacklers in his wake, Tom Saddington probed and tested with runs and kicks, the scrum held its own solidly though with the breeze picking up the lineouts were a lottery. Redditch were frustrated by some decisions which spoiled their fluency but they coped well with all that was thrown at them and because of Five Way's inability to take any advantage from the wind the half closed with Redditch holding onto a 7-5 lead.
The second half saw it all click for Redditch, the moves from the training ground paid off, the attacking phases built up a belief that is was just a matter of time before the points came. Capitalising on the the breeze Saddington put Redditch in an attacking position, the ensuing scrum was won, James Mills threw off his shadow for long enough to feed the ball back to Saddington who at pace was able to break though to score, a rare miss from Spires left the score at 12-5.
The introduction of Will Baillon added a new impetus to the game, his dynamic straight running was testing the Five Ways tackling and resolve to the limit but like last week he was not rewarded with a score, however his link up with Rob Burns provided Burns with the third try and another conversion for Spires.
Everyone played their part, the home pack dominated, Five Ways were harassed continually, unable to settle and unable to unleash their dangerous no 13. Mistakes were forced, Redditch controlled the game, and, having learned from previous games when they had taken their foot off the pedal, they stuck at it for the full 80 minutes and were rewarded with their bonus point earning fourth try when the no 8 Stu Brooks rounded off another text book move.
Mike Allen restored to the second row was named MoM, his constant driving forward surrounded by his fellow forwards was key to the overall success.
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