Redditch 2nds had a good turnout to welcome Erdington 1sts to Bromsgrove Road.
The sun was shining and the ground was hard and the Erdington tackles were just as hard.
The visitors opened the scoring with some tight forward play enabling them to cross for a converted try.
Redditch’s defence was generally good as they brought down the big Erdington forwards and speedy backs. Redditch made some fine breaks with Jack Bacciocchi, John Beale and Connor Morris all making big breaks which deserved more but were let down by the lack of a final pass and some spectacular last ditch defence by the visitors.
Erdington were winning the contest at the scrum and in the loose, but Redditch were dominating the line to the point where Erdington declined to kick for touch after a penalty, preferring to take the scrum. Redditch lost stand off Harry Carr to injury and he was replaced by Will Spires.
Following a good lineout win Redditch flung the ball across the back line to cross wide out.
As half time approached Erdington put together some good interplay to stretch the Redditch defence too far and take the half time score to 5-14.
Immediately after half time A breakaway try stretched the visitors lead as a speedy back spotted the vacant space between two slow moving front rowers and exploited it well.
Soon after some great backing up took the score on to 5-28 and the result looked beyond Redditch.
However, they never stopped trying and a length of the field run from Harvey Habgood was stopped by a fantastic covering tackle. Try as they might Redditch could not breach the Erdington defence, whilst at the other end The locals defended stoutly to lock Erdington out from scoring.
Eventually the deadlock was broken with Jack Bacciocchi crossing near the posts for a converted try.
The final act of the game probably summed it up as Redditch kicked away possession and then fell off tackles as Erdington ran the free ball back at them to run in their 5th try of the day for a finaly scoreline of 12-33.
This did not reflect the effort put in by the home players and barring a 5 minute period either side of half time Redditch were well in the game. The day showed good potential for the merit table games to come.
Most of the 1st XV were rested on the day in preparation for the North Midlands’ Vase 1st Round against Chaddesley Corbett next weekend. Seconds will be away to Kidderminster Carolians.
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