REDDITCH RFC came away with a try bonus point in a high-scoring 52-27 defeat away at Droitwich II.
Tom Lipscomb crossed twice for the Kingfishers while Joe Morgan and Joe Purvis also touched down at Hanbury Road in a game which finished as a 13-a-side contest due to injuries.
And the result means Redditch sit eighth in the Counties 4 Midlands West (South) table.
In freezing condtions, Droitwich made a dominant start and scored the game’s first try before Archie Beddard scored a long range penalty to reduce the deficit.
However, the Kingfishers lost Beddard to a shoulder injury soon after enforcing the visitors to utilise their only available replacement.
Droitwich stretched their lead with two lung-busting tries before Lipscomb broke free to score Redditch’s first try and Will Spires kicked the extras.
The home side dotted down their bonus point try shortly before half time to take a commanding 26-10 lead into the break.
Redditch hit back at the start of the second period when Morgan finished off a fine team move only for two quickfire Droitwich tries to take the game out of the away side’s reach.
And things went from bad to worse for the Kingfishers with Spires and AJ Bennett both forced off the field with injuries, leaving Redditch down to 13 players.
However, in an act of great sportsmanship, Droitwich voluntarily removed two of their own players to ensure the game remained competitive.
Redditch scored their third try through Purvis after sustained pressure on the Droitwich line before the home side responded with a try of their own.
And the Kingfishers were rewarded for their efforts late on as Lipscomb touched down his second try of the game to secure a bonus point after Will Heath made a fine break.
Droitwich scored the game’s final try with a breakaway score in the final minute as the Kingfishers slipped to a fifth successive defeat in the league.
Redditch are next in action at home to Stourport on Saturday, December 9 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Bromsgrove Road.
