Stourbridge 10

Redditch 8

THE Kingfisher's season got underway as they travelled to promotion hopefuls Stourbridge on Saturday but with several key players missing the going was tough for Redditch.

Reuben Albert will be out for several weeks with ankle ligament damage while Nicky Foster, Will Wilson and Scott Johnson were all absent due to personal commitments.

Old heads Andy Douglas and Kenny Hadley were brought in by the Redditch management and moved Gareth Davies out to fly half.

Stourbridge started the scoring with a penalty and converted try in the space of three minutes half way through the first period.

But Redditch picked their game up to finish the stronger and got on the scoreboard with a penalty.

The visitors continued their dominance in the second period and made the pressure count when Tom Elmes broke free for Hodgkins to score under the posts.

But with Will Wilson not making the trip Redditch were without a regular kicker and the conversion was missed leaving the scores agonisingly close at 10-8 to Stourbridge.

Redditch continued to pressure but couldn't break down the resolute Stourbridge defence.

Redditch will be hoping to rectify things in the first round of the Junior Vase on Saturday away at Cleobury Mortimer.