Redditch 18 Harbury 33
Midlands Four West (South)
REDDITCH are all but relegated after defeat to a Harbury side whose victory lifted them five points clear of the drop zone.
The Kingfishers are now 12 points below the drop line and realistically need to win all of their remaining five matches to have a chance of staying up. However, given the fact four of these are against top six clubs and other sides at the bottom have to play each other, this is nigh on an impossible task.
Redditch are not a bad side at this level and they played good, controlled aggressive rugby to have Harbury on the back foot for much of the opening quarter.
However, the difference lies in the clinical ability to pounce on opposition mistakes – a skill Redditch’s opposition seem to capitalise on time and again.
Skipper and man of the match James Mills was instrumental in keeping Redditch driving forward. It was not pretty play and did not have to be, but at times it was industrial, just going through the motions and wearing down the resolve of the visitors.
Slowly the momentum built a series of scrums which gave Redditch ground and confidence so, when Rafal Jarka was deemed to have been held up on the line, Redditch had an attacking scrum opportunity and their tails up.
Within 20 seconds the bubble had been burst though as scrum won, ball spun wide, a fumble, interception and 90 metres later Harbury scored under the posts. A cruel blow, but one effectively gifted to Harbury.
Redditch did respond soon afterwards with a penalty kick from Steve Wilman but Harbury knew the hosts were mentally frail at this point so went for it. A slack tackle attempt from a 22m lineout gave the Warwickshire side try number two and a spectacular one-handed take by their centre opened up a simple run-in.
A 21-3 half-time deficit is a lot to pull back, but Redditch coach Simon Fitzpatrick rallied his troops, made a couple of replacements and sent them back out with the breeze behind them and more belief in the hearts and it worked.
A blitz attack, quick rucks and Mills was over to score. Then Will Baillon – ever-dangerous at full-back – slotted a perfect kick into space and the follow-up chasers caused a fumble which was capitalised upon and the ball founds its way back out to Baillon who gratefully scored. Wilman converted and at 21-13 things were looking interesting.
However, from there on in it was Harbury who turned the screw. They were in control, had the points and did not need to do anything spectacular, just slowly build pressure, gain ground and wait for their chances which eventually came.
An overlap on the left wing was exploited and next, in one of those moments that sums up a game, if not a season, a one-armed take which had been so successful for Harbury in the first half was not so successful for Redditch in the second half and an interception led to seven points for the visitors.
Still heads did not drop and Redditch’s Matt Allen was rewarded with a score.
The Kingfishers return to action at local rivals Kings Norton on March 2.
