Match report courtesy of Keith Skirving....

Kidderminster Carolians RFC started their competitive 2013/14 season with a first round tie against Upton upon Severn in the North Midlands RFU Shield competition, with a starting line up which included some new players.

Upton started the game confidently and went ahead, through a penalty, after just two minutes and for much of the first quarter kept KCs pinned in their own half. KCs were contesting well in the line outs and scrums, but Upton went further ahead when they won the race to a touch down following a kick over the KC’s defence, but did not convert for the extras so the score was 8 – 0 to Upton.

KCs went further behind to a penalty when they were penalised for obstruction when trying to break out of defence and so after 20 minutes Upton were 11 – 0 ahead.

A good home crowd rallied around the home side and this positive support spurred KCs into getting into and staying in the Upton half. Unfortunately hooker, Elliot Kelsall, had to be replaced due to an injury but this did not stop the KC’s pack continuing to supply plenty of good possession. There were some really good examples of support play with the back row of Club Captain Rob Delahay, Layton Wilkinson and Mike Protheroe making their presence felt as did Alex and Chris Baldwin. After sustained pressure debutant George Morgan followed up his own kick ahead and scored under the posts and scrum half Chris Pinner added the extras to reduce the Upton lead to 11 – 7.

KCs continued to have the better possession and after further good support play Matt Rigsby bulldozed over the line for a well deserved try and take KCs into the lead for the first time in the match – the try was not converted so the score was 12 – 11 to KCs.

Just before half time the home side deservedly went further ahead when Upton conceded a penalty close to their posts for offside and Chris Pinner converted the penalty to extend the KCs lead to 15 – 11.

During the second half there were a number of handling errors but it was encouraging to see that the home side were always looking to attack, their defence worked hard throughout and KC’s superior fitness could be seen in the final quarter. The only score in the second half was a penalty kick to Upton mid way through the half to make the score, at the final whistle, 15-14 in favour of KCs.

There was plenty for the home side to take away and build upon before next week’s first league fixture in Midlands 2 West (South) league at Marlpool Lane when they host Leamington with a 3 pm kick off.