REDDITCH RFC eased into the quarter finals of the North Midlands Shield with a 29-17 win over North Midlands Two outfit Old Griffs at the weekend.

But it is the league which matters as the Kingfishers prepare for a crucial fixture on Saturday.

Third placed Redditch visit fourth placed Bromyard (ko 2.15pm) hoping to knock them out of the promotion picture and hoist them up to a possible joint first with a game in hand on the leaders.

Redditch eased off the accelerator at the weekend after going in 29-0 up at half time but captain Mark Rose will have been lifted by the return of vice captain Gareth Davies.

Davies has missed the start of the season after an ankle operation in October but played for the Seconds at the weekend before coming off the bench for the last ten minutes of the first team fixture.

Lee Williams, twice, Glen Francis and Mark Callow scored first half tries at the weekend but Rose will be without prop Steve Moore (shoulder) and number eight Andy Douglas (knee) for Saturday's crucial league clash.