After two successive defeats in Mids 2 West (N) Kidderminster got back on track at lowly Handsworth with a six try bonus point win to complete the double over the plucky Birmingham side who were fighting a lost cause for most of the game but never threw in the towel.
Playing down the slope but against a strong blustery wind on a treacherous surface it took KC’s only three minutes to open the scoring after Handsworth dropped the kick off and then conceded a penalty which player coach Andy McLellan kicked to touch thirty metres out.After last week’s lineout travails Kidder were relieved to win the throw and forwards and backs combined well to set up a ruck under the posts from which No 8 Layton Wilkinson plunged over,skipper Chris Pinner adding the extras.
From the re-start Handsworth enjoyed a decent spell of possession and although they missed a very kickable penalty a mistake shortly afterwards in midfield by KC’s cost them a lot of ground as the home side pounced on the loose ball and found a good touch in Kidder’s 22.The visitors did not heed the warning and another careless pass in a similar position was hacked upfield a couple of times by the hosts’ No 14 who realised he was being caught but spotted his centre wide out to his right and fly kicked diagonally to the No 13 who gathered the ball and cantered over unopposed to reduce the arrears to 7-5 with fifteen minutes on the clock.In trying to stop the attack KC’s covering winger Josh Winfield suffered a facial injury and was replaced by Alex Thompson.
The response by the hosts gave Kidder a wake up call and they hit back with a four try blitz in only fourteen minutes.Firstly,a forwards drive from a scrum thirty five metres out,with hooker Joe Kingston in the vanguard,resulted in a second try for Wilkinson and then after winger Laurence Hughes had tidied up a tricky situation in KC’s 22 they broke out at pace and centre George Morgan raced down the left,using his support runners as decoys,for a terrific individual try.A penalty to touch by McLellan just inside Kidder’s half produced more clean lineout possession which was moved left to Hughes and when his strong run was stopped the ball was switched back inside and flyhalf Freddie Morgan sent his brother George over for the bonus point try.Soon afterwards a couple of rampaging runs by Wilkinson had Handsworth in full retreat again and following a ruck at the right corner the ball was moved inside to No 6 Alex Baldwin who stormed over for a fifth try.The last two scores were both converted by Pinner and with ten minutes of the first half still to play Kidder were cruising at 31-5.However,in the closing moments they took their foot off the pedal and a spirited Handsworth finished the first forty minutes with a sustained spell of pressure in KC’s 22.
Buoyed by their strong finish before the interval and now playing down the slope,the home side began the second period with renewed enthusiasm and a couple of KC’s knock ons and a lost scrum against the head gave the hosts further encouragement.They then kicked two penalties to five metres and from the second lineout their forwards appeared to get over the whitewash but although the try was not given Pinner was caught offside and yellow carded and from the penalty Handsworth moved the ball quickly to their No 8 who went over for a morale boosting try.converted by their No 10 to cut the deficit to 31-12 with eight minutes played.
On the quarter of an hour mark Kidder won a penalty in front of the posts and,reduced to fourteen men,opted to steady the ship by taking the three points.In Pinner’s absence Freddie Morgan kicked the goal and from the re-start centre Rich Sollom made good ground before putting George Morgan away for what seemed to be a clear run to the line only for the pass to be adjudged forward,a marginal decision at best.Nonetheless,KC’s won Handsworth’s scrum and after moving the ball right ruck ball put George Morgan in possession again and this time he was not to be denied as he shook off some half hearted tackles to complete his hat-trick with brother Freddie adding the two points to increase the lead to 41-12 with some twenty five minutes still to play.
The remainder of the second period was a much more even affair than the first half had been and there was no further scoring.Handsworth could hold their heads high at the final whistle and reflect on a stubborn,gritty performance but in truth KC’s had the game in the bag by halftime and must now prepare for a much stiffer challenge next week when they travel to Banbury to take on the leaders of Mids 2 West (S) in the last eight of the Midlands division of the RFU Intermediate Cup – KO 2.00 pm.