REDDITCH RFC conceded on the final play of the game to suffer an agonising 15-14 defeat against Stourport in their first game of the New Year.
The Kingfishers led throughout and won a scrum at the death but failed to clear their lines as Stourport scored a last gasp try to snatch the points at Walshes Meadow.
And the result means Redditch sit eighth in the Counties 4 Midlands West (South) table after coming away with a losing bonus point.
The visitors kept Stourport pinned inside their own half for much of the first period as Takunda Kahwa scored an interception try under the posts which Will Spires converted.
Redditch remained solid in the tackle to keep Stourport at bay as the home side kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to four points before the break.
As tempers began to flare, Redditch stretched their lead when Jack Mertens chased down a cross-field kick and dove on the rolling ball as Spires added the extras.
However, Stourport responded with a try of their own virtually straight from the restart to close the gap back to four points.
The home side thought they had taken the lead with 10 minutes left to play only for the touch judge to disallow the try for a knock-on.
The Kingfishers were camped on their own line in the final moments and just needed to clear the ball to touch after winning a late scrum.
However, the visitors failed to clear the ball out of play as Stourport took full advantage to snatch victory with the final action of the game.
Redditch are next in action against Five Ways Old Edwardians on Saturday, January 25 with kick-off at 2.15pm at Ash Lane.
