VALIANT Redditch RFC lost 34-12 against Chaddesley Corbett after finishing the game with only 12 players on the pitch.
A penalty try and a second-half score accounted for Redditch’s points at Bromsgrove Road.
However, Chaddesley Corbett ran in six tries to claim a bonus point victory at the expense of the Kingfishers.
But Redditch did not allow the high-flying visitors to canter to victory despite playing with three less players for the final 30 minutes of the contest.
And the result means Redditch sit ninth in the Counties 4 Midlands West (South) table.
The Kingfishers started the game a player short and played the final half-hour of the game with 12-men due to injuries.
This left the home side short up against Chaddesley’s 19-man squad.
Chaddesley scored a try straight from kick-off but Redditch held firm to prevent any further immediate damage to the scoreboard.
The visitors crossed twice more before the break to take a commanding 17-point lead on a barely playable pitch made worse by the torrential conditions.
Redditch showed grit and determination to stay in the game as Jack Kelly, Sid Allen, Mike Essex and Stu Brookes led the charge forward, assisted by Tom Dickens and Joe McCombie.
And with the home side’s backline predominantly made up of wingers, the slowly depleting line of backs, Phoenix McCann, Harry Irvine, Rory Allen and Mathew Barlow, stood firm.
However, Redditch closed the gap to 10 points following the award of a penalty try for a neck-high tackle on the try line which dislodged the ball.
And despite losing several players to injury, Redditch dug in to make life difficult for their opponents.
Chaddesley crossed three times in the second period while the Kingfishers scored a second try courtesy of their pack from a driving maul.
Redditch are next in action against Stourbridge III on Saturday, February 14 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Bromsgrove Road.
