Sat 2 Oct 2021
Redditch's first home league game of the season turned out to be one to forget. Injuries, constant rain and a spirited opposition resulted in their first league defeat.
Cannock showed their intent from the kick off, a confident side with the ball in hand they passed and passed and passed. Not always gaining a lot of ground but by keeping the ball alive they managed to pull the Redditch defence around exposing gaps with they happily capitalised on. On the occasions that Redditch were allowed to to express themselves there were too many high tackles for comfort, the first was penalised with a yellow card which maybe should have been ared when TK was brutally taken down, having not penalised the offence strongly enough gave a green light to exponents of the dark side of rugby to have a field day, and they did.
Three first half converted tries gave Cannock a healthy platform and they were able to soak up the charges from Redditch forwards, until they too were left exposed on the left wing with Will Baillon outsprinting his pursuers to pull one try back. The conversion was missed, Cannock kicked a penalty and went into the break 5-24.
The second half got worse for Redditch with two more players unable to continue, unfortunately all those who left the pitch were all backs yet most of their replacements were forwards which gave a great imbalance to the side for most of the second half. Before he had to leave the pitch Owen Binns took advantage of a driving maul to snipe over for a try converted by Will Heath. This gave a little hope to the Kingfishers but having to play the last half hour with twelve forwards meant they were lacking in a pace out wide which was their undoing when Cannock ran in their fourth try.
Coach Luke Kerins had had to join the fray but even his on pitch encouragement couldn't result in any further scores.
Redditch can take great heart from many elements of the game, their tackling was faultless, the forwards dominant in the set piece and driving forward but when it came to the open loose play they were outgunned by a side that played the laws to their limit.
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