A dreadfully flat first half performance saw KC’s crash to a damaging defeat which enabled their opponents to leapfrog them in the table and with bottom side Pershore also winning Kidder have now been dragged back into a relegation battle.
On a beautiful Spring like afternoon KC’s started the match brightly enough and after five minutes a lineout drive from the 22 metre line forced Upton to concede a penalty.Flyhalf Chris Pinner made no mistake to establish a 3-0 lead but two minutes later KC’s had a let off when their backs were caught offside bang in front of their posts thirty metres out and Upton’s kicker surprisingly missed.
In the opening exchanges Upton had not really had any opportunity to run the ball but the first time they did so KC’s allowed them too much room in midfield and the hosts sliced through to create a two on one .Winger Will Varley tracked back well to tackle the ball carrier but he was helpless to prevent the offload and the support runner touched down.KC’s continued to live dangerously for the next fifteen minutes,not following up their own kicks with any conviction,slipping off tackles and struggling in the scrum.When they were penalised for hands in the ruck ten metres out Upton sensibly opted for a scrum and although KC’s put in a good eight man shove,their best so far,the hosts flanker was nevertheless able to pick up and cross far too easily.The conversion bounced over off the bar to put the home side ahead 12-3.Varley,looking to exploit any gaps in Upton’s defensive line,made a couple of darting breaks but KC’s were playing the game very much in their own half with no real attacking threat and a third Upton try on the stroke of halftime,which was converted, left KC’s facing an uphill task in the second period.
Coach Bryan Smallman rang the changes at the break,bringing on all three replacements,and for a quarter of an hour KC’s raised the tempo noticeably with Layton Wilkinson and Rob Delahay driving at Upton and causing them problems but the home side stood firm and the visitors found themselves back under severe pressure.They lost two scrums against the head on their own 5 metre line but managed to hold out and got themselves back into the match when Delahay burst off a ruck in Upton’s 22 to score under the posts.Pinner’s conversion reduced the deficit to 19-10 and five minutes later KC’s were camped on the hosts line but more dogged defence kept them out.A fine break by Pinner then set up another promising position but his pass intended for wing Rich Sollum went astray and the chance was lost.
However,the momentum was now with KC’s and with the clock running down they were awarded an eminently kickable penalty which could have secured a valuable bonus point.Inexplicably,even though a converted try would still have left them needing another score to win,KC’s opted to kick to touch but the attack came to nothing and they were left to rue their decision when a breakaway converted Upton try gave the home side a crucial bonus point of their own and a late penalty sealed Kidder’s fate.