KC 59 Bridgnorth IIs 10
This North Midlands Shield pool game was played against Bridgnorth IIs, their 1st team plays two leagues higher. In glorious conditions just right for a running game, in the event KC did not disappoint.

KC opened their scoring from a short penalty; the ball went down the line to George Tildesley who cut back inside to make the kick easier, Harry Taft kicking the points. Bridgnorth were able to make set scrums difficult for KC, pushing them back continuously. KC forwards balanced this with sterling work in the loose. KC won a scrum on the Bridgnorth 10 metre line and from the scrappy ball Henry Humphrey cleaned up and the ball was passed down the line for George Tildesley to outpace the defence and score, Taft converting.

Bridgnorth had a period where they were in the KC 22 area for almost 10 minutes, KC defence was secure, Chris Pinner was notable in defence. Finally Bridgnorth got across the line and KC held them up. KC were then coming into their own with a great move down the line passed to Beau Archer who drew the defence and fed George Lloyd Jones who stormed through to score from 40 metres, Taft completing the kick. Another move found Pinner setting Taft off and then George Tildesley ran through to score and leave the half-time score at 26-0.

The second half continued in the same vein; a great move where Pinner passed to Taft, who fed Lloyd Jones who passed for George Tildesley to score under the posts. Taft converting. Another great move came when Pinner fed Tildesley who passed to Will Fallows who would have scored; however the referee adjudged a Bridgnorth high tackle to warrant a penalty try. Fallows did not receive any credit for a try that was deserved. Bridgnorth scored a try from a five metre line-out to get on the scoresheet. KC next try came when a kick ahead was not made safe by Bridgnorth and Tildesley collected his fourth try. Pressure from KC on the Bridgnorth 22, from the resultant melee George Lloyd Jones scored a good try, Taft hitting the upright with the conversion. KC pressure got KC into the Bridgnorth half; a Tildesley break was passed to Dave Ray who fed George Lloyd Jones for him to score, Taft kicking his sixth conversion.

The game ended with Bridgnorth scoring their second try which was a carbon copy of their earlier try.

This was a good performance from KC, their defence was back to the best of earlier in the season. The work from the forwards was good, Morgan Maxwell, Ethan Keenan and Hakeem Hussain being notable. This was a model to take forward into the semi-final round of this cup competition.

Bob Davies