Redditch RFC

This might have been an ultimately disappointing result but from a performance perspective it was a stepping stone to a brighter season. For the first quarter of the game there was little to choose between these sides, resplendent in their new kit Redditch looked a different side to last weeks.

 A serious injury within the first five minutes delayed the game whilst the Worcester player was stretchered off. but from the restart Redditch were aggressive in attack, solid in defence and covering a lot of ground to fill in the spaces, but Worcester found a gap and capitalised for the opening try. 

Matt Allen rounded off a fine counter attack with a well crafted score, then Will Spires added a long range penalty to put Redditch ahead 8-7 and the game seemed to be in the balance. However order was restored when the visitors speculatively hacked through a loose ball and their centre won the footrace to touch down.  Two more tries late in the half from close range penalty taps  gave the visitors a healthy yet possibly undeserved 8-24 lead at the break.

All was not lost but the writing was on the wall, the fitness levels came into play as the home side tired and despite some valiant tackling all round, notably from Jon Beale, Spires and skipper Atkinson in the backs and from the whole of the pack with MoM Nathan Marthews to the fore. 

A forwards drive under the posts, two scrum to wing moves and a final interception gave a score line that some may have expected but which wasn't a fair reflection of the game. Atkinson led by example with some bewildering runs midfield, The back row continued to tackle their man relentlessly and were rewarded with Marthews barging over for Spires to convert.

This Sat they travel the short distance to Five Ways OE at Hopwood for a 2.15 ko

James Mills gets in another kick