Sat 31 Aug 2019, 15:00
Redditch opened the new season with a tough home game in the North Mids Vase against Bromyard who finished high in the league Redditch dropped out of last season. A new look side led by skipper Matt Allen and with coach Tom Saddington at flyhalf started steadily, finding their feet with many playing out of position due to holidays and injuries already playing their part so soon in the season.
Bromyard opened the scoring, a clearance kick failed to reach safety and was run back with venom, the Bromyard backline finding gaps with the Redditc defence split, the try under the posts was converted.
Tom Saddington slotted over a penalty for 3-7 , a reward for some solid attacking play and though the Kingfishers seemed to be settling in well another kick was to be their undoing. This time the punt downfield came from Bromyard. Normally it would have been dealt with easily but a wicked bounce took it away from the oncoming Kit Hemmings and left an open goal for Bromyard to touch down.
The home side rallied well but struggled to take advantage of some aggressive attacking, as the defensive line from Bromyard was determined to stay intact. James Mills at scrum half varied the point of attack, Jack Bacciocchi went close a couple of times, a chip kick wide nearly worked, the pack played their part to wear down Bromyard enabling James Mills himself to snipe over for the reward, converted by Tom Saddington taking the score to 10-12 at the break, a promising start.
It was however visitors who hit right back after the interval and knocked the wind out of the Redditch sails. Taking advantage of positional inexperience of some of the Redditch backline, Bromyard began to find spaces to run into. Some fine tacking slowed them down, but the visiting fullback was running like the wind setting up a couple of quick tries.
Redditch were not finished though, plenty of possession came from a pack who held their own comfortably, their reward was a try out wide by Lucas Bates latching onto a delightful reverse flick pass from Tom Saddington.
The last two tries flattered the visitors, a No 8 drive from a close quarter scrum finished the game off as a contest, and finally the visitor's full back showed his wings once more to set up the final score.
No disgrace at all for Redditch in this defeat. Games can be won or lost on fine turning points and if a couple of kicks had bounced the other way or stayed on the pitch it could well have been a different result. Positional inexperience cost them some territory and too often the ball was lost in contact or in the tackle situation, but these are areas that can be resolved. The fire was there, the determination was there, it won't be long before the points flow too.
The league programme starts on 13th Sept at Chaddesley Corbett.
The Friday before that the club are hosting a comedy night. Club member and comic Craig Dixon has gathered some local talents for night of laughs, open to all at £12 a ticket to include a fish and chip supper. Tickets available form Harvey Habgood or Luke Kerins or contact us at the club's Face book page.
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