Redditch 16

Bishops Castle 5

Redditch started their New Year North Midlands Division 1 campaign with a tough home fixture against second-placed Bishops Castle.

Captain Steve Hull won the toss and elected to play up the hill.

The first half then turned out to be a forward dominated slog, with Redditch showing that they weren't suffering from any Christmas hangovers, as they matched Castle in every deapartment andturned round at 0-0.

Redditch then turned up the pressure and were gaining in confident mood as the minutes passed.

After seven minutes, came the first score as Castle were caught offside one too many times and Wilson made them play by slotting home the penalty.

Then, with 13 minutes gone, Gareth Davies made a fine individual break which culminated in another Wilson penalty.

Another penalty was added on 23 minutes as Redditch began bossing the game, going 9-0 up.

Then Kenny Hadley, on his season's debut for the first team, ends a fine running move to score a well- deserved try. Wilson converted to make it 16-0.

But Bishops Castle refused to give up and scored a gallant last-gasp consolation try.