Redditch 15 Bromyard 36
North Midlands Vase
THE NEW-LOOK Kingfishers began the season with a tough home test – in which they were unsuccessful – against Bromyard who finished high in the league Redditch dropped out of last season.
A revamped Redditch side led by skipper Matt Allen and with coach Tom Saddington at fly half started steadily, finding their feet with many playing out of position due to holidays and injuries already playing their part so soon in the season.
Bromyard opened the scoring when a clearance kick failed to reach safety and was run back with venom. The visitors’ back line found gaps with the Redditch defence split and the try under the posts was converted.
Saddington slotted over a penalty for 7-3 – a reward for some solid attacking play – and, although Redditch seemed to be settling in well, another kick was to be their undoing.
This time the punt downfield took a wicked bounce and the ball ran away from the oncoming Kit Hemmings and left an open goal for Bromyard to take advantage of.
Redditch rallied well but struggled to take advantage of some aggressive attacking. The defensive line from Bromyard was determined to stay intact as James Mills at scrum half varied the point of attack, Jack Bacciocchi went close a couple of times, a chip kick wide nearly worked and the pack played their part to wear down Bromyard.
Eventually Mills himself sniped over for the reward, converted by Saddington to leave the hosts just 12-10 down at the break.
However, straight after the interval Bromyard knocked the wind out of the hosts’ sails and took advantage of positional inexperience of some of the Redditch back line to find spaces to run into.
Some fine tackling slowed them down but the visiting full back was running like the wind to set up a couple of quickfire tries.
Redditch were not finished though and plenty of possession came from a pack who held their own comfortably. Their reward was a try out wide by Lucas Bates who latched on to a delightful reverse flick pass from Saddington.
The last two tries flattered the visitors as a No 8 drive from a close quarter scrum finished the game off as a contest and finally the visitors’ full back showed his wings once more to set up the final score.
There was no disgrace in this defeat for Redditch, who begin their Midlands Five West (South) campaign at Chaddesley Corbett on September 14.
Redditch 2nds host Camp Hll 3rds on Saturday.
