KC’s,last year’s losing finalists,took on local rivals Droitwich in the first round of the North Mids Shield and having just squeezed past the Wychavon side by a single point at the quarter final stage in their previous cup run they anticipated a difficult afternoon but,although not entirely convincing,they ultimately ran out comfortable winners.
Five minutes into the match Droitwich were shoved off their own ball at a scrum and Kidder went on to boss this aspect of the game throughout the whole eighty minutes.With a quarter of an hour played,an off the ball incident following a KC’s five metre scrum resulted in a penalty for the hosts which new club captain Chris Pinner confidently knocked over to open the scoring.
Three minutes later turnover ball was taken on by lock Chris Baldwin and with a penalty advantage being played Kidder moved the ball left from a ruck to winger Alex Thompson who crossed for the first try of the afternoon.Pinner’s well struck conversion from wide out extended the lead to 10-0 and whilst not looking particularly threatening KC’s continued to dominate territory.Droitwich had not really been in the contest as an attacking force but their lineout had been functioning smoothly and on the half hour mark possession from a throw on Kidder’s 22 gave flyhalf Sean Walker the opportunity to slot over a drop goal which quite unexpectedly reduced the arrears to 10-3.KC’s responded with a terrific rolling maul but from resultant scrum possession they carelessly knocked on and with the interval approaching the visitors,relying largely on Walker’s boot,began to come more into the game.
At the halftime whistle KC’s really ought to have been more than seven points ahead and they began the second period strangely flat,almost paying the price after only two minutes when Droitwich’s scrumhalf Dave Oliver broke clear and threatened to run all the way to the line until he was thwarted by some last ditch covering defence.The visitors were,however,now on the front foot and from a scrum ten metres out they got over the whitewash but Kidder managed to hold them up.The home side continued to be penned back for the next fifteen minutes but when they finally got into Droitwich’s half for the first time they took full advantage with a try under the posts by back row Rob Delahay,keeping the ball alive after replacement Steve Price had been brought down just short of the line.Pinner duly added the extras and five minutes later KC’s retained possession well after winning lineout ball on halfway and some good handling ended with a try for flanker Mike Protheroe,again improved by Pinner.
Kidder remained in control for the final quarter without ever looking like opening the floodgates and although they got the job done efficiently enough they will certainly need to step up a gear when they open their league campaign on 12th September at home to Stafford – KO 3.00 pm.