Sat 18 Jan 2020, 15:00
Redditch 2nds 5 Stourport 2nds 21
It may have been a coincidence but Stourport's 1st team were not playing on Saturday when their 2nds arrived to play Redditch 2nds with a 22 man squad, it was those extra players that held the key to this game when fresh legs came on toward the end to finish off a valiant fight by the home side.
A frantic start in glorious sunshine saw both sides running enthusiastically with the ball, though not always profitably or forwards, which meant the wingers were left with little room to manoeuvre and the midfields were crowded. Resorting to the boot to gain territory, the Stourport flyhalf badly sliced his attempt straight in to the arms of Lucas Bates on his own 22m line. It was a direct route to the try line which he managed without a hand getting near him. The conversion was a little too wide out to be converted but it gave Redditch the lead and upped their confidence having some very raw players in unfamiliar roles.
The first half continued mainly in the central sector of the pitch, neither side dominating, Redditch have a slight scrum advantage, Stourport were a little more street wise and slowly built their pressure. New recruit at scrum half, Leo Fanthome made an enterprising 40m break but couldn't break the last gasp tackles. Stourport regathered themselves, managed to put some passes together and eventually scored under the posts to make the conversion easier and take a 5-7 lead into the break.
The second half saw the visitors up the tempo, their replacements had fresher legs whilst Redditch suffered with losing players to injury effectively leaving them with 14 fit players and key roles lacking in experience. But what they lacked in skills they certainly made up for in determination. There were spells when Stourport were camped on the Redditch line but solid effective tackling and a steely will to hold out meant it took a long time for them to break the seal and score their two late tries.
Cal Razzak had already made a superb last ditch tackle to save a certain try and their very large second row deprived himself a try when admitting he had dropped the ball over the line, he redeemed himself however by scoring in the closing seconds of the game.
There were many creditable performances, Sean Madden impressed when moving from centre to prop. TK was active on the wing, the whole pack gelled well providing a solid platform and stubborn defence, and Elliot George looked like one for the future .
The game had been referreed sympathetically, there were errors a plenty all over but the game was allowed to flow giving the players and supporters an enjoyable afternoon.
Garry Mills also deserves a mention, not only for producing a flat dry pitch that is the envy of many a club but for finding some kit and joining the fray for the last quarter.
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