Sat 11 Dec 2021
Having not played for a month due to postponements Redditch could be forgiven for going into this top of the table clash a little under baked but their performance in the first half hour was most encouraging as both sides struggled to come to terms with the constant drizzle and numbing cold which made handling of the wet ball difficult.
The opening stanzas saw R drive forward using their pack to great effect, whereas the B&S game plan was a little more expansive which was entertaining but didn't quite click as the R defensive line tackled sharply and effectively cancelling out most threats.
R took the lead with a penalty kick by Will Spires, which only went to spark the home side into a more determined straight forward style of play. Instead of passing the ball wide from the first opportunity they made holes in the R defensive wall and then used the space created to run in their scores. Three tries in the latter stages of the half built the B&S confidence as much as it deflated the visitors. A forward's try from close up attacking, a wingers try outsprinting the defence and and the scrum half jinking over from close range giving the home side a 17-3 half time lead.
The second half proved to be pretty much the same fayre. Buoyed by their lead Bees got a little more adventurous with their play with limited success. R tackling kept them at arms length for most of the time but on three occasions they were breached as B&S took the game out of reach and claimed their bonus point for tries scored.
As the game progressed both sides suffered injuries, and the stoppages in the wet gloom under floodlights didn't improve the tempo or the structure of a game that faded to an end with the home side scoring at the death to become comfortable winners.
Redditch never said die and their defence was, on most occasions, equal to the task of stopping the flying B & S backs who have scored so many tries this season. Several times early in the game we saw flying wingers caught by a swarming cover defence with the line wide open.
However as the home side changed their point of attack, their big forwards and quick stepping backs made sufficient inroads to get past the Redditch rush defence and spin the ball wide with the Redditch defence defeating. Missed first time tackles ere Redditch's downfall but who could blame the defenders given the conditions and what was thrown at them.
Birmingham & Solihull threw the ball about and displayed some phenomenal handling in the wet. Redditch however were not able to match them and ultimately wasted the fair amount of possession that they were winning from scrum and Lineout where Sid Allen was dominating.
Next week will see a different challenge as we host Bishop's Castle and Onwy Valley.
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