Redditch 27 Atherstone 6
Midlands Four West (South)
REDDITCH continued their recent run of good form and moved into the top half of the table with a convincing victory against Atherstone on Saturday.
Despite the lack of form on their travels, the opposition always provide a strong pack that prove difficult to break down.
Redditch struggled occasionally in the scrummage, but performed strongly at the lineout and in loose play to secure a third successive league win.
Possession was not always clean for the home team, but the pace in the forwards and backs was too much for Atherstone to handle.
The Atherstone forwards played sensibly and directly in the first ten minutes and capitalised on indiscipline with two penalty kicks.
Redditch responded with a penalty of their own from Tom Saddington and it was not too long before they got in behind the Atherstone defence.
Following two wasted opportunities, the Kingfishers finally got over the line after an initial break at the fringes from hooker Glen Francis. Back row Peter Hunt was on hand for the offload and had enough pace to race half the length of the pitch, handing off a tackle along the way.
Redditch continued to threaten in the back line and they got their second try following strong running by Josh Holt, who then fed Edwin Grey a score on the right wing.
Grey returned the favour shortly afterwards by releasing Holt down the left flank to score the third.
Redditch needed a fourth score in the second period to get the bonus point, but it was not as easy to come by as they would have hoped.
Atherstone upped their defensive effort in the second half and, although they struggled to create opportunities, they certainly made Redditch work for theirs.
Ben Stanyard would have scored the fourth try following a defensive scrum five metres from the Atherstone line, but a penalty try was awarded instead. Stanyard was just about to pounce on a ball that was poked out from the back of the scrum and was held back illegally by a desperate Atherstone defender.
Man of the Match was Richard Beddard for his work in the scrum and around the tight fringes.
Fifth placed Redditch will hope their good form continues on Saturday when they travel to face an in-form, third placed Claverdon team who have only lost one game all season.
