REDDITCH RFC held on to claim a thrilling 29-28 bonus point win against Droitwich II after the visitors ran in four unanswered tries to set up a tense finish.
Jonathan Beale and Aaron Atkinson both crossed twice for Redditch with Mikey Adams also on target and Will Spires adding two conversions to put the Kingfishers into a 29-point lead.
However, Droitwich scored 28 unanswered points in an extraordinary second-half showing before Redditch eventually cleared the ball into touch to claim victory.
The result means Redditch sit seventh in the Counties 4 Midlands West (South) table having secured their first win of the new campaign.
Both teams lined up to observe a two-minute silence in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II prior to kick-off with the game played on the slopes of Terry’s Field.
And despite Redditch being pinned in their own half for much of the first quarter, centre Josh Kearney almost struck when he made a devastating break only to be stopped by a heroic tackle from Droitwich full-back Jordan Walters.
However, Redditch would not be denied a second time when Kearney made another break and passed to wing Beale who scored in the corner with Spires expertly adding the extras.
And Redditch scored their second try when full-back Atkinson produced a trademark hand-off before touching down out wide from debutant Aaron Bennett’s pass.
Redditch grabbed their third try following a string of penalties as Adams crashed over from close range before the bonus point was secured when Beale stripped the ball in a tackle and raced 70-metres to score with Spires’ conversion putting the home side into a 24-point lead at the break.
The Kingfishers extended their lead to 29 points early in the second period as Atkinson crossed for his second try of the afternoon with a quick tap and go from 40-metres out.
However, Droitwich took full advantage of the slope for the rest of the game to score four converted tries including one in the final minute to set up a nail-biting finish.
The referee insisted the restart had to take place and after some frantic defending, Redditch managed to turn the ball over and clear into touch to claim a crucial win.
Redditch are next in action at home to Stourport on Saturday, September 17 with kick-off at 3pm at Bromsgrove Road.
