REDDITCH signed off their league campaign for the year with a hard fought victory after seeing off Five Ways Old Edwardians 17-11.

The Kingfishers made it three wins out of the last five games in the Midlands Division Four West (South) to ensure they head into the festive break solidly in fifth-place.

But they were thankful to the club's old guard coming to their rescue at their Bromsgrove Road home.

Paul Green, Stan Hull and Glen Francis, who between them have a collective age of 136, all touched down.

Redditch had started brightly and opened the scoring when Green crashed over from a maul.

The hosts bagged their second try when Hull took full advantage of Five Ways' defence opened up to leave a gap.

But Old Edwardians hit back in the second half with two penalty and a touch down.

For long periods, Redditch struggled to get out of their half, but look threatening when they did.

Green made a good break, but the final pass was dropped agonisingly to the ground.

With their backs against the wall, Redditch's Dad's Army came to the rescue again as Josh Holt drilled a kick deep into the Five Ways half.

Another hugely effective driving maul allowed Francis, on his return from injury, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat when he grounded the ball for the decisive score.

Redditch return to action in the cup at home to Ross on Wye on Saturday, January 3.