A strong performance by KC’s forwards on Saturday laid the foundations for a well deserved home victory against Newbold to lift KC to 4th position in the Midlands 2 West (South) League gaining a bonus point for scoring 4 tries. The back row of Tom Maher, Ben Binnian, Layton Wilkinson and replacement Rob Phillips had particularly good performances as did scrum half Chris Pinner.

KCs went behind to a converted try when the Newbold full back burst through the home sides defence to score under the posts. Going behind did not worry the home side and they reacted well to the home crowd’s positive voice and made a number of telling breaks. Half way through the first half a Newbold player was yellow carded and KCs made the most of their man advantage and kept Newbold pressed into their own 22. KCs had a series of lineouts close to the Newbold try line and from one Ben Binnian took the ball cleanly and KCs created a controlled rolling maul which saw Chris Baldwin score a thoroughly deserved try which was converted by Chris Pinner to level the scores at 7 – 7.

Any attacks by Newbold were met with strong tacking by the KC’s defence with strong tackling particularly by Jacob Evetts, Laurence Hughes and Tom Maher.

In the 35th minute Chris Pinner made a decisive break from the KC 22 metre area and with good support from the Baldwin twins, Ben Turner and Callum Ross KCs ended up deep into the Newbold half where they remained for the remainder of the first half. A strong run by Arthur Chiverton supported by Jacob Evetts saw quickly recycled ball end up with Evetts again who scored a try under the post which was converted by Chris Pinner to end the fist half with KCs leading 14-7.

KCs started the second half well, defending strongly and making strong runs with the ball. A third try came from a rolling maul, after a lineout, to ease KCs lead to 19 – 7.

Newbold came back strongly and kept the pressure on the home side and managed to make the most of this pressure, despite strong tacking, to score an unconverted try and narrow the KC lead to 19 – 12.

Andy McLellan then led a strong drive from a Newbold attack pushing the visitors who were just outside the KCs 22 metre line back some 20 metres and this gave the home side the platform to attack the visitors with a number of strong penetrating runs. Eventually Newbold conceded a penalty close to their try line which was taken quickly by Andy McLellan who passed to Jacob Evetts who went over the try line for his second try (which was unconverted) and KCs into a well deserved 24 – 12 lead with 8 minutes left on the clock.

Newbold came back strongly throwing everything they had at the home side and with 4 minutes remaining, burst through the KC’s defence and a try looked certain until Tom Maher made a tremendous tackle. Still Newbold pressed the KCs line and with 2 minutes remaining were awarded a penalty try for a scrummaging offence to narrow the score to 24 – 19. KCs survived a tense final 2 minutes and end the match as worthy winners.

Next Saturday KCs entertain Leek RFC at Marlpool Land in the RFU Intermediate Cup with a 3 pm kick off.