Match Report Courtesy of Martin Easton....

KC’s season rather fizzled out with this disappointing defeat in a match which not only had the kudos of being a North Mids Shield semi final but also doubled up as the annual Edgar Davies Shield fixture against their near neighbours.
Kidder began sloppily,not dealing with Bridgnorth’s kick off and then losing their own lineout throw and knocking on in their 22 and it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead after five minutes with a simple penalty in front of the posts slotted over by Biddel, their fullback and captain.
With quarter of an hour played KC’s at last got into their stride, launching an attack from their own 22 and some slick handling and support play took them deep into Bridgnorth territory before quick ball created an opening for fullback Rhys Pritchard to cross for a fine score. Only two minutes later good work in the loose by prop Matt Rigsby set up a break in midfield by skipper Rob Delahay and the blindside found Pritchard on his shoulder to put the No 15 in for his second try, converted by Chris Pinner to put the hosts ahead 12-3.Bridgnorth then put themselves in trouble, allowing a long Kidder kick downfield to bounce when it really should have been caught.KC’s used the field position to keep the visitors penned in their own 22 and with their scrum creaking Bridgnorth struggled to clear their lines. Delahay almost got over and a surge by flanker Tom Maher set up a ruck close to the line at which the visitors were penalised. Kidder went for a five metre scrum which had to be re-set but North defended defiantly until the half hour mark when KC’s sustained pressure was eventually rewarded as second row Rob Phillips finished off a lineout drive from a dozen metres out to increase the advantage to 17-3.
With the forty minutes almost up KC’s were guilty of a couple of lapses of discipline which were to cost them. Firstly, hooker Stu Such was shown yellow for careless/dangerous use of the boot . Bridgnorth kicked the penalty to touch and used the lineout possession to set up an attack which Kidder stopped at the expense of another penalty. There is history between these sides and with the match becoming somewhat feisty the ref had a word with both captains, but with little effect.Immediately afterwards Rigsby blatantly came in from the side at a ruck on KC’s line and left the official no option other than to show him a card and the prop joined Such in the bin only ninety seconds after the first dismissal, leading to a spell of uncontested scrums. However, not content with the award of a penalty the visitors indulged in a little bit of “afters” which saw the ref reverse his decision and reach for yellow again, making it thirteen against fourteen.
Despite nine minutes of added time there was no further scoring before the break but at the start of the second half Bridgnorth’s backs were looking threatening and it took a last ditch tackle by Phillips to prevent the thirteen men conceding and after seven minutes the visitors No 13,Preece,found plenty of space in KC’s depleted ranks to easily cross for a converted try which reduced the deficit to 17-10.There was then a delay following an injury to Bridgnorth’s No 1 who had to be stretchered off and five minutes after play resumed, with both teams now back to their full complement, Preece again made the most of some flimsy tackling to run in from thirty metres for his second try and Biddel’s conversion levelled the scores.
KC’s re-start did not go ten metres but they won the scrumback on halfway and there then followed a period of play which went a long way to determining the outcome of the match. At two successive close range scrums Bridgnorth’s front five were taken apart and Kidder were awarded a penalty but the shot at goal was badly missed.A penalty kicked to touch saw the home side soon camped back on North’s five metre line and a knock on gave KC’s a scrum at which the visitors were penalised. With an obvious scrummaging superiority, KC’s opted to pack down again but the scrum collapsed and at the third set piece Bridgnorth were once more penalised.Three further scrums saw North resorting to questionable measures to keep KC’s out but mystifyingly no penalty try was awarded. The seventh scrum did result in a yellow card for North’s No 2 but as the scrums would now again be uncontested KC’s felt compelled to go for goal but,unfortunately, again missed badly.
Having somehow survived a fifteen minute onslaught and with the decisions seemingly going their way Bridgnorth took full advantage when a careless KC’s knock on just outside their 22 gave the visitors their first attacking position for almost twenty minutes and, awarded a penalty at a ruck, Biddel made no mistake to edge his team in front 20-17.There was still time for KC’s to turn the match around but Bridgnorth sensed an opportunity to cause a real upset against a team who had enjoyed a much better league season and as the home side became increasingly desperate the visitors capitalised. Kidder tried to run the ball fifteen metres from their line but were turned over and North’s No 6 crossed in the left corner to clinch the victory which not only denied KC’s the chance to win some silverware but also retained the Edgar Davies Shield for Bridgnorth who celebrated their double success whilst KC’s who, as head coach Ian Bletcher had feared, at times looked a little jaded both physically and mentally were left to rue their missed chance