KCRFC v Whitchurch (H) - Saturday 21st October KC’s 10 Whitchurch 15

Top of the table Whitchurch arrived at Marlpool Lane having won all of their first four games in Mids 2 West (N) and the odds were stacked against Kidderminster but with the last knockings of storm Brian at their backs the home side made a solid start and with five minutes played they won a penalty for offside some thirty metres out but the kick at goal was hooked wide. Three minutes later they were made to pay when the visitors ventured into KC’s territory for the first time with an attack down the left and kicked ahead into the in goal area.. Winger Joe Mullock showed an impressive turn of speed as he chased the ball but Kidder’s fullback Sam Taylor appeared to have shepherded it over the deadball line just before Mullock got a hand on it.The referee, however, who was a fair distance from the action thought otherwise and awarded a somewhat fortuitous try.
Despite this set-back, KC’s were very much in the game with skipper Chris Pinner, usually at scrumhalf but now operating at No 10,using the wind well with long kicks to the right corner to establish field position and from ruck possession in Whitchurch’s 22 blindside Rob Phillips, impressive throughout, almost forced his way over. A penalty for a high tackle was awarded to Kidder anyway and from smack in front of the posts Pinner knocked over the kick to reduce the deficit to 5-3 with twenty five minutes played.
Two minutes later KC’s were caught offside ten metres from their own line to the right of the posts and Whitchurch, with a much heavier pack, opted for a scrum from which they worked the short side but a kick intended for their winger went straight into touch and from the resulting lineout the hosts were able to clear.
Some industrious work by KC’s forwards then provided a platform for Phillips to release left wing Jake Shellis but when he tried to follow up his own kick he was stopped in his tracks by a late tackle and the penalty came to nothing. Another raking Pinner kick put KC’s on the front foot again and the flyhalf used turnover ball to combine well with Shellis and briefly threaten the visitors defence but the half finished tamely as both teams made mistakes in the tricky conditions. However, trailing by only two points, the home side could reflect on a pretty satisfactory first forty minutes against the table toppers.
Unsurprisingly, with the elements now in their favour Whitchurch started the second period strongly as KC’s found it difficult to make any distance with their clearance kicks and after only two minutes Mullock scored his second try as he again won the foot race for a kick into the in goal area and this time there was no doubt or controversy.
Undeterred, Kidder rolled up their sleeves and took the game to the visitors. Phillips initiated a promising attack down the right which was taken on by young winger Keiron James and from a scrum just outside the 22 Phillips made another strong run but tantalisingly close to the line could not quite find the support. Nonetheless,KC’s continued to build pressure and after hooker Ryan Wainwright had been stopped just short flanker Mike Protheroe plunged over for a well deserved try and Pinner defied the wind with an excellent conversion to level the scores at 10-10.

Whitchurch’s response was immediate and only four minutes later a forwards drive from a lineout in Kidder’s 22 had the hosts in full retreat before the ball was spread wide and fullback Josh Gorst came into the line to cross the whitewash and restore the visitors lead.

For the next fifteen minutes KC’s enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory without ever being able to create a real scoring opportunity until with ten minutes remaining Whitchurch were penalised for offside and then marched back ten metres for disputing the decision.Kidder kicked the penalty to within fifteen metres to set up an attacking lineout but the throw was not straight and in a matter of seconds they found themselves back on their own 22 where Whitchurch were awarded a penalty which, if successful , would have deprived KC’s of a losing bonus point. Despite the conditions,the kick was not that difficult but was quite some way off target and although Kidder could hardly get their hands on the ball as the clock ran down they clung on to their consolation point which was fully merited as there had not really been that much between the two sides over the whole eighty minutes.