Redditch RFC

As the weather had put paid to the First team fixture in Stone Staffs, all focus was on the Vets game v Stourbridge IV. Skipper Duncan Davis had selected a subtle blend of wily experience and youthful exuberance but ultimately it was the visitors who edged it in the skills department and eventually won a game that had been a close run affair for the first hour. A damp pitch in a icy gale was never going to produce champagne rugby but the surprisingly healthy group of supporters were treated to a game of thrills and spills and a Hokey Cokey which looks like it could do with a little more practice.

Proceedings started with a minutes silence to remember RRFC former player and committee member Dave Pellett who had unfortunately passed away that morning. Things could not have started worse for Redditch as Stourbridge opened the scoring in the very first minute with their left winger outpacing all up hill. Redditch however knuckled down to some conventional keep ball, rucking and rolling their possession to enable Tim Aris to score to level things up, a feat that was matched soon after when Stuart Freeman, playing his first game in over 20yrs, was able to convert concerted pressure into 5 points. The try which Aaron Atkinson converted giving the Kingfishers a 12-5 lead. They were however unable to build on this lead, S hit back utilising the speed on the other wing to score their second try, they then capitalised on an optimistic yet wayward clearance kick to stroll under the posts to give the visitors a 12-17 lead at the break.

Defending the slope is never easy, especially when the opponents have powerful runners. The home tackling was fine at first, attacks were broken down and counterattacks set up. But as the game progressed injuries piled up, stalwarts limped off the pitch, some heroes limped back on. The tide was slowly turning and when Stour scored the the first of their second half tries outsprinting the cover defense the breach had been made, the fight slowly ebbed away and  three late tries gave the final score line a flattering appearance.

Next Saturday the first team host Atherstone when their league programme resumes and the week after that they travel to league leaders Birmingham Solihull when a Veterans game is also proposed.