KC’s travelled to lowly Shrewsbury missing several important players and although the form book suggested that they were still firm favourites the testing conditions proved to be a great leveller and they had to work very hard indeed to secure the win which consolidated their fifth place in Mids 2 West (N) and kept them well within range of the three sides above them who trail runaway leaders Moseley Oak.
Shrewsbury dominated the early exchanges,using their heavyweights to crash on to short passes and try to punch holes in Kidder’s defence but good KC’s discipline kept them at bay and they weathered the early storm,
However,the crossfield wind and heavy,cloying mud did not suit Kidder’s game and they conceded a series of penalties which enabled the hosts to make progress up the right touchline but continued to defend stoutly until with twenty minutes played they unwisely tried to throw off the shackles using long passes and lost possession on their own 22 before giving away another penalty which Shrews scrumhalf slotted over for a 3-0 lead.
The momentum was all with Shrewsbury and time and again KC’s had to rely heavily on the boot of fullback Andy McLellan to clear their lines but although the penalty count against them was mounting they frustrated the home side’s attempts to bludgeon them into submission and with thirty five minutes on the clock they were at last able to put together a fluent attacking phase.A break by flyhalf Freddie Morgan was supported by his brother Arthur at outside centre and right wing Alex Thompson and the move culminated with Shrewsbury having to scrum down on their own five metre line.It was their put in but a great effort by the Kidder pack shoved them off the ball and No 8 Layton Wilkinson picked up at the back to secure possession.From the ruck just a couple of metres out the ball was shipped left and McLellan came into the line to send winger Laurence Hughes over and after soaking up an enormous amount of pressure KC’s went into the break with an unlikely but invaluable 5-3 advantage.
Kidder did not start the second half well,having a clearance kick charged down to give the hosts field position and with less than ten minutes played their No 9 knocked over his second penalty to put them back in front, 6-5.
KC’s responded with their first real spell of sustained handling rugby,defying the filthy conditions as forwards and backs combined to find a few gaps and they were rewarded with a penalty slap in front of the posts which Pinner converted to edge them ahead again by just two points.Shrewsbury’s re-start went straight into touch and the scrum back on halfway gave Kidder a good opportunity to kick for position,which they did not take,and as the conditions worsened even further the next fifteen minutes were littered with mistakes by both sides with knock ons,penalties and turnovers thwarting all attempts to play constructive rugby and a long delay following an unfortunate serious injury to a Shrewsbury player did nothing to help the continuity.
Nonetheless,KC’s perservered and gradually got the upperhand with some threatening counter attacks as they ran back a number of Shrew’s clearance kicks,putting the ball through the hands and spreading the play to stretch their defence which eventually cracked and blindside Tom Maher touched down under the posts to finish off a terrific passage of play with Pinner’s conversion leaving the hosts needing two scores to save the match.
In the event,KC’s looked the more likely side in the closing stages and when Shrewsbury dropped the ball in their own in goal area Kidder seemed odds on to score from the five metre scrum until they knocked on with the line beckoning.One last effort by the home side was repelled as KC’s confidently worked the ball out of their 22 and with the clock ticking down they won a penalty thirty metres out which ate up a little more time.Pinner’s kick was on target before the wind got hold of the ball and it dropped just short but although Shrews managed to progress out of their 22 they then inexplicably kicked the ball directly into touch to end any hope of rescuing a losing bonus point and despite all their possession they had been unable to cross the whitewash,which was testament to Kidder’s defence and commitment.
KC’s will next be in action on Saturday 2nd January when they entertain Malvern in the 3rd Round of the RFU Intermediate Cup – KO 2.00 pm.