Sat 7 Sep 2019, 15:00
With last week’s Vase Defeat well behind them, Saturday was used to make sure that everyone who wanted a run could get one before the season proper started.
Redditch 2nds welcomed Camp Hill 3rds, but sportingly lent the visitors two players, as Matt Barnett-Johnson and Carl Platten swapped shirts to join the opposition. Later Phil Harding also came over from the Exiles pitch as an injury substitute for Camp Hill.
Redditch started with a flourish with Matt Allen leading the way and a strong forward drive led to a try in the opening minute.
Redditch continued to apply pressure, but the visitors defended stoutly, before a couple of penalties allowed them to get field position, which they converted into a driving try on the 14th minute.
Redditch again came back strongly to score on 20 minutes and again on the 25th minute when Dan Oscroft made a storming run, only to slip a delightful little pass to Matt Allen who fired a precise long pass to Olly Stokes who scooted over for Redditch’s 3rd try. This was champagne rugby, and from the kick off Redditch were at it again, only for a mistake to be made as the try line beckoned.
Camp Hill swooped on the loose ball and ran the length of the field to dot down under the post.
Redditch’s lineout was working well and a clean take at the front led to a midfield burst by Will Baillion who crossed under the posts. Yet another conversion was missed to leave the half time score at 20-10 to Redditch.
Redditch started the second half as they had the first with back row Clark Parker crossing in the first minute. A change of kicker brought a different result taking the score to 27-10.
Camp Hill settled to enjoy their best spell of the game and their kicker came good to convert a good try and close the score up to 27-17. They kept up the pressure for most of the third quarter and Redditch were starting to know they were in a match.
Redditch eventually took another chance to go further ahead with a well taken try on 22 minutes.
The Camp Hill defence toiled manfully and never stopped trying, but the final word was Redditch’s as James Mills put in a long crossfield kick which was chased down by 3 teammates. It was left to Tom Piper to claim the bouncing ball and cross for a well-deserved try after a busy afternoon.
This left the final score at 39-17 which should give Redditch a boost as they approach their first League match. Good performances all around the field have left the selectors with a nice problem as they pick next week’s team.
On the other pitch Redditch Exiles kept a strong Kidderminster outfit in check as they had the benefit of the slope in the first half. However, with the slope against them, and an influx of youth to the Kidderminster side, the score board began ticking over rather quickly for the visitors to run out easy winners.
The League program opens next week away to Chaddesley Corbett.
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