Sat 25 Sep 2021
After a long and winding road to Bloxwich due to M6 closures and a rushed final preparation Redditch started the First round of the Midlands 5 West(South) League quite nervously.
They were called early to the centre to remember a Bishop's Castle player tragically killed in a car accident on the eve of his 1st team debut.
The kick-off was dropped, a mystery penalty followed, a quick tap was taken and before the crowd had settled Bloxwich had scored adjacent to the posts.
Another penalty for dubious reasons saw the Bloxwich kick soar wide of the posts.
Redditch then had a better period of play with the next 15 minutes played mainly in the Bloxwich half. A high tackle saw Ash Mooney take the points to make it 7-3 to the hosts.
Redditch continued to apply the pressure, but 2 further penalty attempts saw the ball evade the uprights.
Eventually Bloxwich secured the first of many scrum penalties on the Redditch feed to win some possession. They used this well and after a sustained period of pressure crossed once more to take the score to 14-3.
From the kick off the Kingfishers worked their way up the left touchline before spinning the ball wide to the right for winger Ollie Stokes to cross wide out taking the halftime score to 14-8.
With the slight slope favouring Redditch the second half ebbed and flowed, with Redditch being mysteriously penalised for wheeling the scrum on 3 occasions, on their put in, and in good try scoring positions. Redditch had struggled to get their scrum right all match and injuries to the influential Bloxwich Captain and Redditch winger Ollie Stokes gave coach Luke Kerins the opportunity to make some drastic changes. Captain Matt Allen moved to outside centre and fresh replacements came on at 8, hooker and prop.
The result was immediate as the first Bloxwich scrum went backward under a severe drive from the visitors.
As Bloxwich were visibly tiring James Mills took advantage with a quick tap to score with Will Heath adding the extras to give Redditch a slender lead.
With a steady supply of scrum ball Ash Mooney was sniping at every opportunity and one promising move was called back for a forward pass. After one dash Owen Binns loomed up in support to score on his first team debut. Will Heath added the extras to make the win suddenly seem likely.
It was left to captain Matt Allen to have the final word scoring wide out despite the attentions of several Bloxwich defenders who kept trying to the end despite several injuries and a lack of match fitness.
Despite a scratchy start and obvious problems at scrummage Redditch were delighted to come away with a bonus point win to get their season under way.
Meanwhile the Redditch Exiles veterans team travelled to Warley to meet a touring side Old Albanians. The score line was conveniently forgotten as coarse rugby was shown to be alive and well and a fantastic time was had by all.
Next week sees Redditch host Cannock at Bromsgrove Road with a 3:00pm kick off.
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