REDDITCH RFC were denied a losing bonus point after missing a last-minute conversion in a 26-17 defeat against league leaders Bishops Castle and Onny Valley.
James Mills saw a last gasp conversion travel the wrong side of the post after tries from Sean Madden, Joe Purvis and Joe Morgan kept the Kingfishers in contention at Bromsgrove Road.
The result means Redditch sit 10th in the Counties 4 Midlands West (South) table following a fifth straight league defeat.
Redditch scored the game’s first try after soaking up some early pressure as Madden crossed following a string of penalties as Spires saw his conversion attempt glance off the wrong side of the upright.
Bishops Castle, who have won all seven of their matches this season, responded well to the setback as the league leaders ran in three tries although Redditch remained dominant in the pack despite trailing by 14 points at the break.
And the visitors scored their bonus point try at the start of the second half to take the game away from the Kingfishers.
Redditch kept Bishops Castle pinned inside their own half for the final half-hour and went close to a score only for the table toppers to hold up James Mills over the line despite appearing to ground the ball.
And Bishops Castle then held up Clarke Parker over the line after good work from Jon Beale and the returning Takunda Kahwa.
However, Redditch’s relentless pressure eventually paid off when Purvis touched down and Spires added the extras.
The Kingfishers struck again in the dying moments as Morgan rounded off a flowing move in the left corner only for Mills’ conversion to slip wide of the uprights.
Redditch are next in action against Old Halesonians II on Saturday, November 16 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Wassell Grove.
