REDDITCH'S dire start to the season continued with a 10-8 defeat to lowly Stourport at the weekend.

The latest reverse means the Bromsgrove Road side have lost three of their four league matches to the sides immediately above them in the table - Stourport, Bromyard and Woodrush.

Only hapless neighbours Five Ways Old Edwardians are beneath them with a similar pointless record and player-coach Cameron Waghorn is finding life on the sidelines frustrating after suffering a back injury in the Bromyard defeat.

The Kingfishers had their chances with a try by returning full back Paul Barnett ruled out, three straightforward kicks wide of the mark and a more difficult last minute kick also off target.

But Waghorn says his second from bottom side are not helping themselves.

Full back Neil Hodgkins is holidaying for two weeks and will miss the visit of Powergen North Midlands rivals Worcester Wanderers in Round Two Midlands of the Powergen Junior Vase on Saturday (ko 3pm).

Redditch had a walkover in the first round after lower league opponents Chaddesley Corbett withdrew but will have their work cut out against a Worcester side who thumped Woodrush 29-5 at the weekend.