Bromsgrove 2nds 56

Redditch 19

A WELL-earned break from league action saw the Kingfishers cross the town border to face a tough Bromsgrove seconds team.

But with injuries and other commitments taking their toll, the tough task was nigh on impossible as Redditch could only group together 13 players.

Bromsgrove started brighter and put the Kingfishers under extreme pressure, but Redditch managed to keep their hosts at bay for the first quarter of an hour until the Boars turned their possession into points.

Bromsgrove ran in five unanswered tries before the light Redditch pack broke through their hosts line with a fine individual break from Alekna on the stroke of half-time.

A Bromsgrove try from the kick off in the second period saw Redditch reply with two efforts of their own.

But with two more players going off through injury (Will Wilson with a knock on the knee and Francis with a torn hamstring) the referee had no choice but to blow up 10 minutes early.

Team manager Steve Moore said: "This would have been a very tricky fixture for us even with a full strength side, so to go over with only 13 players, many people playing out of position, shows great courage.

"Every man who pulled on a shirt on Saturday played their hearts out, and are all worthy of praise."

Neil Hodgkins was Man of the Match.

Top of the North Midlands One, Redditch will be hoping to be at full strength for Saturday's away tie at second-from-bottom strugglers Birmingham Civil Service.