Redditch 5, Woodrush 3

A FIRST half try from Lee Williams proved enough to hand Redditch the bragging rights in this derby match.

But the result was in doubt until the final whistle with the visitors missing a late penalty that could have handed them the points.

Second row Williams put the finishing touch to a sweeping move that started inside the Redditch '22', the backs and the forwards combining in style.

A Toby Smith penalty kept Woodrush in touch but he then missed a number of other opportunities late on leaving coach Matt Ellwell wondering what might have been.

"It was a brilliant game of rugby - a really good advert for the sport at grassroots level," he admitted.

"We have finished the season in fifth but so many of our games have been drawn or lost by the narrowest of margins.

"If those results had gone our way we could have been up there challenging."

n Redditch face another key game this weekend when they come face-to-face with a Kings Norton side looking to maintain their play-off hopes.

Norton will need a win at Bromsgrove Road and hope the result of Upton's clash with Evesham goes in their favour.

n Redditch Exiles beat Stourbridge Lions 19-5 at the weekend, the third time these two giants of Midlands veterans rugby had met.

And with the series poises at 1-1, it was Redditch who claimed the glory.

The home side started with the elements in their favour but seemed to make heavy weather of the possession and territory, taking their time to make their mark on the scoreboard.

Tim Bradley was the first to go close controversially being denied a try after a skilful kick and chase.

Dave Smith had been press-ganged into playing scrum-half but revelled in his new role with a man of the match performance. It was his break from a line-out that released Duncan Davies for the first score.

Smith scored the second try himself with Jez Thomas adding the conversions.

A landslide looked possible when Davies went over for his second but the only other score came from the visitors in the second half.