Match report courtesy of Martin Easton - KC's Press Secretary

Missing five first team regulars from their pack,KC’s faced a daunting challenge but came out of this match with their heads held high after giving the league leaders a real run for their money.
Kidder played without fear from the start,taking the game to the visitors,and after ten minutes deservedly went ahead.A penalty kick by fullback Andy McLellan from the 22 metre line struck a post but the missed chance for a three point lead quickly turned into a five point advantage when Barkers clearance kick was fielded by skipper Stu Such who ran the ball back at them before feeding flyhalf Chris Pinner for a try in the left corner.
KC’s continued to recycle the ball really well but with seventeen minutes played their backs were caught offside thirty metres in front of their posts and the visitors No 12,Nathan Tilsley,knocked over the penalty.Barkers were coming more into the game and on twenty five minutes set up a rolling maul from a lineout before releasing the ball to their threes and KC’s could only stop the move at the expense of a knock on.From the resultant scrum fragile tackling allowed the visitors flyhalf Tom Stokes to run in a try and Tilsey added the extras to give them a 10-5 lead.Not surprisingly,KC’s depleted scrum was coming under severe pressure and they had a let off when Barkers lost the ball over the tryline but finished the half with a flourish when a tremendous surge by No 8 Rob Delahay ignited a sixty metre counter attack by the backs which took play right up to the visitors line.They could not get over the whitewash but,trailing by only five points at the break,KC’s were still very much in the match.
The restart saw Kidder come under immediate pressure from a rolling maul but for the second time the visitors knocked on when over the line.Buoyed by this escape,KC’s enjoyed a twenty minute spell in which they played some of their best rugby of the season,inspired by man of the match Delahay who time and time again made valuable yards from the back of a retreating scrum.Firstly he broke from a set piece on KC’s own five metre line and with McLellan in support launched a counter attack which rocked Barkers back on their heels.The No 8 then sparked another break out of defence and the increasingly beleaguered visitors could only halt the momentum with a hand in a ruck which saw their No 3 yellow carded.Roared on by the large President’s Day crowd,KC’s continued to play some thrilling rugby and terrific handling by Pinner and McLellan almost created a try scoring opportunity before the move was snuffed out by an unfortunate knock on.KC’s really were putting on a tremendous show and another flowing attack,spearheaded by wing Will Varley popping up in midfield,culminated in a try under the posts for McLellan which he converted himself to edge Kidder in front 12-10.
Yet another splendid passage of play followed for KC’s but they were not quite clinical enough to capitilise and Barkers rode out the storm.Not for nothing are they top of the table and having shown their resilience they quickly cashed in when,predictably,midway through the half KC’s forwards began to tire and slip off first up tackles.Another rolling maul was finished off by second row Gareth Collins for a try excellently converted by Tilsey from wide out in the blustery wind and the visitors were now on top for the first time.On the half hour mark Tilsley added a close range penalty and converted a try by centre Aaron Newman to establish a decisive 27-12 lead which was extended when turnover ball and a good offload created a try for wing Martin McPhilmey.
The 32-12 scoreline was a little harsh on KC’s and they showed great character by rounding off a very entertaining afternoon’s rugby with a try by flanker Tom Such after a series of drives from a lineout.Barker Butts fully merited their win,no question,but KC’s can take great heart from this display.The senior players led by example and the replacement forwards stepped up to the plate.If they can replicate the same level of performance for the rest of the season,survival at this level should be assured.