REDDITCH RFC were edged out 13-12 by St Leonards to come away with a losing bonus point as their depleted squad suffered a fifth straight defeat.
The Kingfishers struck in either half through Mickey Adams and Clarke Parker but were unable to hold on to the points.
And the result leaves Redditch in fifth place in the Midlands 5 West (South) table, having taken 44 points from 17 matches this campaign.
Despite missing a host of players, Redditch scored the game’s first try when Adams gathered a loose ball to cross for a simple score that was converted by Will Spires after Leo Fanthome’s superb tackle dislodged the ball from the St Leonards full back.
However, Redditch were forced to rejig their lineup when Spires was hit late and St Leonards reduced the deficit with a penalty to trail by four points at the interval.
And the visitors took a one-point lead when a driving maul at a lineout led to a try underneath the posts only for the conversion to be missed due to strong winds.
Redditch hit back with a try of their own when Parker supported Mickey Essex to score after the latter went down the blindside from an attacking scrum.
However, St Leonards would take the points when they drove over for the game-clinching try after a series of penalties gave the visitors territory up the pitch.
Redditch are next in action away at Stone on Saturday, March 12 with kick-off at 3pm at Stone Hockey Club.
