Kidderminster Carolians put up their best performance of the season in this game against local rivals Droitwich. In the first fifteen minutes the game was all Droitwich with KC having to defend, pressure told and Droitwich scored three unconverted tries.
Just when the spectators thought that KC were going to buckle they came back with a great move started by Nathan Ward and a try scored by Tom Dalton. Chris Pinner making the conversion. This try seemed to galvanise the KC team who came back into the game strongly. The next twenty minutes showed both sides having good moves stopped by resolute defence. Real pressure from KC was rewarded when a great move by the pack pushed the opposition ten metres to score through prop Russ Gauden, again Pinner was successful with the conversion. This brought them back to 14-15 down, however just before half time Droitwich got over the line with a converted try.
The second half began with another period where both sides had chances, KC were playing really well at this point with good work in the loose and great defence. Alex Baldwin and Tom Dalton being prominent.
Against the run of play Droitwich scored a converted try from a set scrum in the KC 22. The disappointment of conceding this try and a loss of concentration gifted Droitwich a soft try straight from the kick off.
KC again pulled themselves together and then came back with their own pressure with Simon Clarke, Scott Lovell and Chris Pinner looking dangerous. KC were rewarded with a move that gave Ryan Tiene the opportunity to make a trademark run from the Droitwich ten yard line to score.
Droitwich were reduced to 14 men through a yellow card and even the transgressor admitted that he was expecting a straight red. Astonishingly the referee saw it differently! It took several minutes to get the injured KC player to his feet. In this time KC went off the boil and in the final move of the game Droitwich went over for a converted try.
Another loss but the team must be complemented for the way they took the game to Droitwich and were able to control significant periods of the game.
Bob Davies