Redditch RFC

Strangely the team with the disadvantage of slope, wind and sun against them did all the running in this match.

From the kick off the visitors ran in a soft try and repeated the dose a few minutes later. And so it went on until half time when Redditch trailed by twenty points to nil.

We hadn't played badly, but the Droitwich backs, who train with their first team and have played many games with them, were too slick for the Redditch line. That said we tackled well and broke up many attacks. We were starved of possession in a match with only 11 scrums and a first half penalty count heavily in the visitors favour. Add to that the misfiring lineout and the score line was probably deserved.

The second half was as if the teams had swapped jerseys as Redditch scored in the opening minute. And scored again. The flow of penalties to Droitwich had stopped and with some possession Redditch looked impressive bringing the score back to 23-27 where it stayed until well into injury time. Then Droitwich scored two quick tries to take the final score to an unflattering  23-37.

Redditch will need to improve their discipline and lineout work if they are to take Evesham in their final match of the season on 6th April.

See more detail in match report.

Both sides, with some of the Redditch Juniors, honoured club stalwart Mick Gallagher with a minute's silence before the game.

Mick was an excellent 1st team scrum half in the seventies including a term as Club Captain in 1972 season. Mick continued playing going on to captain the Exiles in 1985 - a unique combination. Off the field Mick was club Chairman for 7 seasons from 1982-1988.

May he Rest in Peace.