Match report courtesy of Kevin Woodham

Kidderminster Carolians hosted Evesham RFC in their latest league fixture achieving a bonus point win by 42 points to 10, however with three minutes gone it was Evesham who opened the scoring with a converted penalty to lead 0-3. From the kick-off the ball was knocked on and KC’s were awarded a scrum from which they attacked down the left hand side, after numerous phases of play Freddie Morgan produced a perfectly weighted kick towards the right wing which allowed Kieran James to out jump his opposite number and score in the corner. The conversion failed.

The Kidderminster lead was swiftly increased following a fluent three quarter movement which was halted when Evesham conceded a penalty, this was quickly taken and passed accurately to the right allowing Kieran James to score his second try and increase KC’s lead to 10-3. Kidderminster were playing fast expansive Rugby and a further score now seemed inevitable, a powerful run by Jess Smith was halted just short of the line, quick ruck ball was fed to Rhys Pritchard who crashed over for the try increasing the lead to 15-3. With 25 minutes gone the bonus point was secured when Kidderminster attacked from inside their own half, an overlap was created allowing Arthur Morgan to sprint clear of the cover defence and score in the corner, a difficult conversion attempt just fell short. Score 20-3. There followed a period of heavy KC’s pressure, however careless decision making prevented the score from being increased. With five minutes of the half remaining Evesham exerted some pressure through a maul, this was well defended by the home side and they were awarded a scrum in their own 22, from the scrum KC’s counter attacked and the ball was speedily fed to Arthur Morgan who set off on a 60 metre run for the line, he was stopped some five metres out but from the loose ball Jess Smith barged over for Kidderminster’s fifth try. The half time score stood at 25-3.

Within 5 minutes of the second half the lead was further increased, Tom Maher broke from the base of the scrum and passed to Chris Pinner, he transferred to Kieran James who ran strongly towards the try line before passing inside to Scott Lovell who scored. The conversion attempt hit the post. Score was now 30-3. There followed a 15 minute spell from Kidderminster which was scrappy and lacking in direction, Evesham for their part capitalised on this and from a rare visit to the hosts half they breached the defence to score under the posts and close the deficit to 30-10, this score had the desired effect on Kidderminster whose scrum now became dominant, they were pushing Evesham off the ball at will, from one such scrum five metres out Tom Maher scored from the pushover to stretch the lead to 35-10. The final period of the game saw KC’s completely over power the opposition with constant pressure being applied in all areas of play, from this pressure Jess Smith crashed over and Chris Pinner added the conversion to make the final score 42-10.

Apart from the odd lapse in concentration and decision making a well deserved victory, the team excellently led by Mike Protheroe continues to improve. Congratulations to Chris Pinner who was awarded The Hillandale Caravan Parks Man of the Match Award.