NORTH East Worcestershire Ravens will visit Leamington Royals in a play-off fixture on Saturday having secured a 42-28 victory in their final Midlands League South match of the regular season against Birmingham Bulldogs at Moseley RFC.
Bulldogs took an early lead with a converted try but Ravens rallied and got themselves on the scoreboard courtesy of Ryan Smitheman’s try, although the conversion attempt slipped marginally wide.
Bulldogs then scored another converted try but at the restart Bulldogs knocked on close to their own try line but still managed to keep Ravens out.
However, the visitors gained a penalty for a high tackle and from the next set Ravens scored a try powered over by Tom Fletcher, only for the conversion to be narrowly missed again.
The next time Ravens were in possession Rich Whitehouse scored a superb try created by his own midfield break before successfully converting.
Bulldogs scored another try but Ravens had the final say of the first half when Brian Sibiya powered over, leaving the visitors 18-16 up.
Ravens were put under intense pressure at the start of the second half but extended their lead when Smitheman crossed the line for a try converted by Whitehouse.
Following a break from the Ravens’ 20m line, Whitehouse then scored his second try which he duly converted before the Bulldogs pulled a converted try back.
Bulldogs ended up dropping out from under their own sticks after being caught in possession over their own try line but then followed, against the run of play, an interception try for Bulldogs which they converted.
Ravens regained possession and another fine midfield break from Whitehouse created another converted try.
The following kick-off produced a penalty to Ravens from which a brilliant drive from second row Harry Shelton allowed the maestro Whitehouse to score yet another converted try to complete the scoring.
