Redditch out of the Vase (From Redditch Advertiser)

Redditch out of the Vase

2:29pm Wednesday 23rd September 2009 in Sport

REDDITCH were brought back down to earth with a bump, losing with the last kick of extra-time to be knocked out of the first round of the EDF Senior Vase, 22-5 at home to Bloxwich.

Bloxwich to their credit seemed to be down and out in the second half, but they fought back after Redditch’s indiscipline offered them the chance to level the game and to ultimately steal it at the death.

The Kingfishers started the game brightly, playing up the slope in the first half.

Tom Elmes scored the opening try after some good interlinking passes with Ricky Smith and Gareth Davies, with James Mills converting.

The visitors then began to apply the pressure and realised they were a bit more street wise from numbers one to ten.

The opposite fly half kicked to the flanks all afternoon and the bounce favoured his winger as Redditch failed to field a ball in the corner and the lead was reduced to two.

A string of penalties offered more chances for Bloxwich to increase the lead, but they were only successful with one, taking a narrow one point lead into half- time.

With the slope in their favour. Redditch took control and Tom Saddington waltzed under the posts as a huge gap appeared thanks to a dummy run from his brother Lewis.

Mills and the visitors’ fly half exchanged penalties and the Redditch lead was by six points with Bloxwich appearing to tire.

A mixture of resilience and ill discipline, however, allowed Bloxwich to gain territory into the Redditch half without threatening the line.

The visiting fly half was in good form with the boot though, scoring two more penalties to bring the scores level and forcing extra time.

Edwin Grey scored a breakaway try early in the first period of extra play as the Bloxwich fly half again kicked to the flank.

This time the bounce was more favourable and Grey hacked the ball on and chased to ground the ball in the corner.

Bloxwich hit straight back and scored a try to level the points as their strong pack drove close to the fringes and forced their way over the line.

With the score level, Redditch would have gone through on more tries scored during the game, but the final twist came at the last play.

Two successive penalties gave Bloxwich territory and a shot at goal which the fly-half slotted in from a decent range an angle to take them through to the next round and dash Redditch’s hopes for another year at least.

The Kingfishers will look to bounce back next weekend as they are in Midlands Three West (South) action against Old Leamingtonians at home (3pm).