Redditch ................................ 23

Bromsgrove............................. 3

Wet conditions meant this game was going to be scrappy but it was Redditch who dealt with the slippery ball the better.

Early pressure through the midfield enabled Redditch to be awarded a penalty which Mark Morris slotted over.

Bruising defence kept Redditch at bay for most of the first half until cracks appeared in the Bromsgrove defence. As Redditch attacked, a ruck ensued which saw some illegal shoeing of the player on the deck. Bryant duly floored the offending player with a right hook and a 20 man punch-up started resulting with Redditch prop Mick Payne and his opposite number being sent off.

Dave Bush was brought on to fill the front line vacancy and Andy Harper on the wing was sacrificed. First half tries from Carter and Hope gave Redditch a 13-0 interval lead.

After the break, Bromsgrove thought the slope would assist them but stern defence kept them at bay.

With 15 minutes of the half gone, Hirons and Alenka came on for the Kingfishers and as Redditch continued to apply pressure, it was Hirons who scampered through the defence to score.

Alenka duly obliged some 10 minutes later, breaking through to score beneath the posts.

l Stourbridge 4ths 0 Redditch Exiles 0

Redditch Exiles totally dominated this game but failed to find their way over the line.

Had it been a boxing contest, the referee would have brought the proceedings to a halt but, as it was, the visitors had to settle for a draw.

Redditch had hoped that the home side might be a little complacent so planned to get 'in their faces' from the start. This they did and stayed nose to nose with their hosts for the entire game.

The key to the pink domination was the constant supply of quick ball from ruck and maul. Scrum half Neil Planque kept the ball spinning wide whenever he could. On other occasions he ran himself, sniping and cutting at the opposition.

Jez Thomas, man of the match Gareth Davies and Tracey Goodfellow all had defence splitting runs, but the tackling proved effective throughout. And when Wayne Sharpe went over for what seemed a good try, the score was not given.

The second half saw no respite for the home side who continued to hold firm in the face of constant pressure. Jason Habgood was twice held up over with Sharpe suffering the same fate.

The forwards kept up their domination of the scrums with Lol Doughty teaching his teenage opposite number some tricks of the trade with strikes against the head.

Droitwich are the visitors this weekend.