KC’s exited the RFU Intermediate Cup with an erratic display which saw them lose out to their local rivals in the Midlands semi final played at Stourton on the vast expanses of Stourbridge’s National Two North first team pitch.
In benign conditions,the best since before Christmas and conducive to open rugby,
Kidder got off to a dream start as although they knocked on the hosts kick off they won the scrum and moved the ball left to winger Arthur Morgan who kicked ahead and with his brother George also in hot pursuit they hunted down the ball on the hosts tryline and Arthur got the vital touchdown to give KC’s a 5-0 lead with precisely 1 min 7 secs on the clock.
The Lions were quick to retaliate when five minutes later they used lineout possession midway in Kidder’s half to spread the ball left and win a five metre lineout which they threw to the front and with KC’s not reacting at all hooker Scott Langdon,who had a very eventful afternoon,went over unchallenged to level the scores.
Some good kicking from hand by Stourbridge kept the visitors on the back foot and at another five metre lineout they kept Kidder guessing by throwing to the middle and Langdon scampered round the short side to come within a whisker of his second try but KC’s survived with the award of another defensive lineout which,however, they messed up and when the ball went loose over the tryline Langdon was not to be denied and dropped on it for his second touchdown,converted by outside centre Sam Wilson to put the Lions ahead 12-5 after a quarter of an hour.
Four minutes later an excellent kick by fullback Andy McLellan to fifteen metres gave Kidder field position and when the ball was released to the backs after an initial forwards drive Stourbridge were penalised in front of their posts and flyhalf Freddie Morgan,who had taken over the kicking duties in the absence of skipper Chris Pinner, comfortably converted from twenty metres to reduce the deficit to four points.Wilson then slotted over a penalty for the hosts from thirty metres when KC’s were guilty of not releasing at the tackle but KC’s No 10,who had just taken a fearful clattering,recovered well after treatment and kept his composure to respond in kind when Stour were caught offside on their 22 to make the score 15-11 to the home side but with halftime approaching the Lions extended their advantage to eleven points when they created a two on one just inside Kidder’s half on the right hand side and scrumhalf Ben Tibbetts scored under the posts with Wilson adding the extras.
In the very first minute of the second period Langdon was yellow carded and KC’s took immediate advantage.The penalty was kicked to fifteen metres and a well organised lineout drive was finished off by No 8 Layton Wilkinson with Freddie Morgan’s conversion cutting the arrears to 22-18.Shortly afterwards Wilson missed with a long range penalty attempt and then when Kidder’s pack,who had the best of the scrums all afternoon,shoved Stourbridge off the ball outside centre George Morgan made a break into the Lions 22 with flanker Mike Protheroe up in support and a try looked on the cards but the ball was somehow lost and the home side were able to clear to touch.
An excellent passage of play by the hosts culminated with a five metre lineout midway through the half and when the ball went loose at the back Tibbetts pounced for his second try to stretch the lead to 27-18.Following this score the momentum began to swing Stour’s way but with thirty five minutes on the clock KC’s were thrown a lifeline when Langdon was shown a straight red.Again the penalty was kicked to touch and from a shortened lineout five metres out Kidder were stopped right on the tryline but Wilkinson plunged over from the ruck to bring them to within four points for the fourth time at 27-23.
There then followed the seminal moment of the match as KC’s made the most of a weak Stourbridge clearance kick to go through the phases before setting up another five metre throw from which they thought they had got the ball down,only for the referee to rule that there had been a double movement.This was to prove to be the visitors last chance as even though there was a full ten minutes of time added on a couple of unfortunate knock ons under no pressure whatsoever let the fourteen men off the hook and the Lions made them pay when right wing George Tildesley won the aerial battle for an intelligent kick to the corner to score the try which clinched a place in the final for the home side.
KC’s return to league action next week with an away fixture at runaway leaders Moseley Oak – KO 3.00 pm.