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 host Bishops Castle this Saturday and will need to build on the positives that came from this game, solid scrum and tight defensive line, to beat their mi-table opposition and remain in the promotion race
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