Earlsdon RFC 29 v 22 Kidderminster Carolians RFC

The start of the League season saw KCs play away at Earlsdon in the Midlands 2 West (South) League, with a game played on one of the best days of summer. After good pre season training KCs were disappointed to lose their opening fixture but showed more than enough promise for the season ahead by gaining 2 points in this defeat.

KCs kicked off and had the home side defending from the start. After 10 minutes Layton Wilkinson drove the ball over for a try after a good lineout, close to the Earlsdon line to give KCs a 5 point lead. KCs continued to press the home side into their own half after this score, but could not convert the pressure into points.

It was 19 minutes into the game before Earlsdon got into the KCs 22 and a missed tackle allowed Earlsdon to break through the KC’s defence and score a try under the posts to take the lead 7 – 5, after 23 minutes. This gave Earlsdon confidence to keep the game in the KC’s half and after some tremendous tackling by KCs on their try line, Earlsdon passed the ball wide for a second try to take the score to 12 – 5.

KCs came back after this score and Layton Wilkinson, Rob Phillips and Arthur Chiverton all made strong runs. But, from a penalty awarded to Earlsdon in the last minute of the half, their fly half kicked deep into the KC’s 22 and from the lineout the home side drove the ball over the line for an uncoverted try to make the half time score 17 – 5.

The first quarter of an hour in the second half saw neither side take control of the game. But after 18 minutes the Earlsdon centre made a tremendous break, and, despite a great tackle by Nick Martin, the centre was able to offload the ball to a support player who scored Earlsdon’s fourth try and extend the score to 22 – 5.

Rather than becoming disheartened by this score KCs had a good period where they ran the ball well and made telling breaks. After a series of good breaks Rob Phillips on his 1st XV debut scored a try after 21 minutes to narrow the gap to 22-10. Rob Philips scored again 4 minutes later from a move that started on the half way line and this try was converted by Chris Pinner to bring the score to 22 – 17. Unfortunately Rob Phillips was injured scoring this try and had to be substituted.

This try seemed to waken Earlsdon into action and their full back entered their back line at pace to break though the KCs defence and score under the posts for a converted try and extend the lead to 29 – 17. Still KCs did not give up and from the kick off they went straight back at Earlsdon and Captain, Stu Such, forced his way over their try line in the 36th minute to take the final score to 29 – 22 and give KCs a well deserved league point for scoring 4 tries.

This display gave KCs plenty of heart for the season ahead and saw three new players, Arthur Chiverton, Rob Phillips and Callum Ross make their debuts. and all gave strong performances. Next Saturday see KCs entertain Newbold on Avon at Marpool Lane.