KCRFC 1st XV v Walsall 2nd XV – Saturday 4th October
KC’s 48 Walsall 2nds 17

Kidderminster were due to play Droitwich in the North Mids Cup but the Wychavon side were obliged to fulfil a national cup fixture which took precedence and KC’s instead arranged a friendly against Walsall 2nd’s whose first team play in Mids 1 West,a division higher than the hosts.
Kidder exerted early pressure which included winning two scrums against the head,a good start for hooker Grant Jones on debut,and they took the lead after eight minutes when skipper Rob Delahay was driven over from a close range lineout.Four minutes later another lineout drive from almost the same position resulted in a try for flanker Mike Protheroe and midway through the half fullback Jordan Hatch finished off some lovely flowing rugby with a third try which was well converted by scrumhalf Chris Pinner from wide out to establish a commanding 17-0 lead.
KC’s had a let off when Walsall’s left wing fielded a weak clearance kick and carelessly put a foot in touch before crossing the whitewash but the warning was not heeded and with the visitors scrum becoming a lot more solid and their No 10 looking lively the hosts began to make handling errors and indisciplined backchat cost them a string of penalties.Unsurprisingly,they conceded shortly before halftime when they dropped the ball in their own 22 and from the resultant scrum Walsall’s centre wriggled out of a tackle and ran in unopposed for a converted try which reduced the arrears to 17-7.KC’s deserved their interval lead but had gone off the boil and the visitors were now right back in the game,
The second half began in much the same vein and a simple Walsall penalty kick further cut into the deficit before they drew level at 17-17 when their flyhalf broke a number of tackles to touch down under the posts for a converted try.Andy McLellan,returning from a long term injury,was then yellow carded but a good counter attack by KC’s at last gave them field position and No 10 George Morgan profited with an elusive run to the line to put them back ahead.Kidder were getting a second wind and winger Will Varley made a fine break down the left touchline before drawing the last defender and passing inside to give Hatch his second try,converted by Morgan for a 29-17 lead.The flyhalf’s younger brother,Freddie,on as a replacement for McLellan when he had served his ten minutes in the sin bin then plucked a loose ball off the ground without breaking stride and went in under the posts,his brother again converting,and with the KC’s back row of Delahay,Proctor and impressive youngster Jess Smith everywhere the home side took complete control.Some great interplay between George Morgan,Alex Baldwin and Varley created a try for prop Matt Rigsby and right wing Dean Hodson went in at the corner for a hugely popular eighth and final try which Freddie Morgan improved with an excellent conversion to round off an ultimately convincing win with what proved to be the last kick of the match as the ref blew for time a couple of minutes early.
KC’s return to league action next week with a home fixture against Camp Hill – KO 3.00 pm