Redditch 7 Upton 0

Redditch continued their excellent start to the season with another win in their opening home fixture.

Upton have always proved tricky opponents in the past and this encounter was no different with just one score settling the tie.

The first half saw Redditch play down the hill and they would have expected to build up a lead. But solid defending kept the home side out and it was Upton who went closest to breaking the deadlock, Karl Hill bringing the move to a halt which resulted in the referee sending him to the sin bin.

This seemed to spur the Redditch forwards on and, with Mark Morris standing in for Hill, Upton were put under pressure as the home side showed there was more on offer than their explosive backs - Redditch dominating in the scrum.

But the half remained scoreless and this was also the case at the start of the second period.

However, injuries meant coach Dave Parsons had to reshuffle the side and flanker Tim Arris was moved into the backs. This proved inspirational as, within minutes, Morris won the ball and released Arris to run in from his newly adopted position. Morris added the conversion to open up a 7-0 lead for the home side.

The game flowed from end to end for the final 20 minutes but it was Redditch who maintained their 100 per cent start to the campaign.

Man of Match: Mark Laishley.

The seconds continued their 100 per cent record in the Merit league by thrashing Upton's second string 38-3.

Local rivals Woodrush are the visitors to Bromsgrove Road next week as Redditch look to maintain their winning start in North Midlands One.