Sat 6 Nov 2021
The top pf the table clash between 3rd and 4th was always going to be a close encounter and so it proved on a blustery afternoon by the Severn, it was the wind that was going to play a major part in the afternoon's proceedings.
From the start it was apparent that S were going to try and utilise their big set of backs and run hard at R, they had not anticipated the ferocity of the visitors tackling which kept them at bay. Being constantly in the faces of their opposite numbers reduced the time and space they had to work in. Stourport could only gain any meaningful ground with kicks for territory, when the ball was in hand they looked dangerous but could not turn it into points thanks to the immense tackling display across the whole team. Will Heath, TK, and Aaron Atkinson belied their size and left their marks on the home side who were forced to rush passes to avoid getting hit and made mistakes as a result.
when Redditch were in possession they struggled kicking into the breeze but were able to make ground through Matt Allen and Will Baillon in the centres supported ably by their back row of Mitchell, Brookes and Parker.
First half was a back and forth affair with neither side dominating, a couple of head cuts slowed things down, and it was from a wind assisted kick to touch that the first breakthrough came. a series of drives followed that R did well to repel until S managed to sneak over the line for a try which was converted. Soon after S slotted a penalty kick and suddenly had a 10-0 lead. it was in the closing minutes of the half that Clarke Parker made a decisive break , the ball reached Will Baillon who drilled a flat kick through the oncoming defensive line and managed to dive onto the bouncing ball before the defenders to score aa try converted by Heath.. 10-7 at the break
R utilised the wind more effectively than S had, pushing them back into their own half and making them turn around, under pressure mistakes were made which R capitalised upon. A penalty in the red zone was quickly taken and spun wide for Baillon to dive over for his second , shortly afterwards in a similar position the ball was spun the other way and slick hands allowed Leo Fanthome to score out wide. neither were converted but R had a 10-17 lead.
Stourport reverted to plan B and kept the ball tight restricting R 's opportunities to build on their lead, but again the tackling matched the attacks when all the Redditch forwards upped their game to defend their slender lead. An exchange of yellow cards didn't influence the game a great deal though Stourport's sustained pressure was maintained and ultimately rewarded with their second try from close quarters which was converted to level the scores.
As the clock ticked down it seemed as if honours would be shared until S were awarded a penalty out wide 40 m from goal, it was the last kick of the game so they took a shot at the posts. The ball slipped narrowly past the post but touch judge arriving late on the scene waved his flag so the referee initially erroneously awarded the points. Confusion ensued as Stourport celebrated but eventually the correct decision was arrived at and a draw was the final result.
The whole side played very well but the continual hard graft and harassment from Sean Madden in the second row earned him the Man of the Match award.
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