KC’s kept alive their hopes of some silverware this season when they made it through to the final of the North Mids Shield for the second successive season with this hard fought semi final win over a combative Veseyans side.
With a strong gusting wind at their backs Kidder started well,returning Veseyans’ kick off with a long punt by skipper Chris Pinner which set up field position in the 22 and after five minutes the forwards drove over from a five metre lineout with flanker Mike Protheroe appearing to get the touchdown.A good take and some smart footwork by debutant fullback Alex Sparks,the latest youngster off the Colts production line,kept the pressure on the visitors and KC’s should have extended their lead when awarded a penalty twenty metres out but Pinner’s effort deflected wide off a post.
Having been penned in their own 22 for most of the first quarter of an hour,Veseyans made the most of their escape three minutes later with a sudden breakout led by centre Matt Hipkiss which took play the length of the field and the support phases were finished off with a try by loosehead prop Reiss Taylor,converted by fullback Nathan Spinner to propel them into a 7-5 lead completely against the run of play.
Suitably stung,KC’s responded almost immediately with an unconverted try by centre Rich Sollom to round off a good interchange between Pinner and Sparks but Veseyans’ backs were looking lively and although they missed a penalty opportunity into the wind the Streetly side were beginning to get on top in the driving rain.
As the interval approached a good Veseyans scrummage won them a penalty and their forwards then drove into Kidder’s half before being stopped illegally at the expense of a yellow card for KC’s replacement prop Ben Turner.
Defending a narrow 10-7 lead and playing against the elements with a man down,the home side faced an uphill struggle at the start of the second half but within three minutes they went further ahead when,using scrum possession,Pinner spotted a gap in the visitors’ defence and darted under the posts for an opportunist try which scrumhalf Freddie Morgan surprisingly failed to convert.
Shortly afterwards a long wind assisted Veseyans kick caused problems for KC’s near their own line and it required strong defence to force the visitors into touch when they went blind from a five metre scrum.The home side were now under the cosh and after being reduced to fourteen men again when Pinner was shown yellow it took more great last ditch defending to keep V’s out when their No 8 Jack Ward picked up at the back from another five metre scrum.
Kidder had,however,tightened up considerably in the second period and with the weather abating their forwards stepped up a gear to gradually wrestle back the initiative.Veseyans cause was not helped by a succession of injuries and midway through the half the hosts tremendous forwards effort was rewarded with another unconverted try,this time by No 8 Layton Wilkinson,to increase the advantage to 20-7.Having squandered a 24-0 lead against the same opposition just a fortnight ago KC’s could take nothing for granted and as the rain returned,lashing down with a vengeance,the match became something of a battle of wills but with the clock running down the home side showed the greater resolve and three minutes before time Turner put the result beyond doubt with a fifth try to clinch a hard earned victory which would have been a lot more comfortable if Kidder’s place kickers had not had an afternoon to forget.
KC’s will face Old Salteians in the Final on Sunday 8th May but must first complete their three remaining league fixtures,beginning with a trip to Old Yardleians next Saturday – KO 3.00 pm.