Match Report courtesy of KC's Press Secretary Martin Easton.....
The penalty count against KC’s in this game was so high it was approaching alpine proportions and they played a quarter of the match with fourteen men but somehow still emerged with another bonus point win to consolidate their third place position in Mids 2 West (South).
Kidder started very slowly and the home side were in almost total control for the first quarter of an hour.Twice in the opening exchanges KC’s missed kicks to touch and they were very nearly made to pay when Banbury caught the second effort and moved the ball along the backs to their left wing David Taylor whose strong run was only stopped by a last ditch tackle at the corner flag but the Bulls did,on merit,take the lead shortly afterwards with a well struck penalty by fullback Andrew Joubert from five metres inside the right hand touchline.
KC’s at last got their hands on the ball when they won a scrum against the head on halfway and a show and go by flyhalf Andy McLellan created space for himself but his chip into the in goal area was a little too strong and Taylor was comfortably first to the ball.The visitors were,however,getting into their stride and skipper Rob Delahay almost made it to the tryline but his offload was knocked on and the chance was gone.Nonetheless,the momentum was now with KC’s and McLellan cut through to score under the posts for a try converted by scrumhalf Chris Pinner to put them ahead 7-3.Five minutes later Joubert had a chance with a penalty from virtually the same spot as his first kick but this time he was well wide and KC’s had all the territory in the last ten minutes of the half.A rolling maul from a lineout drove Banbury back thirty metres into their own 22 and Kidder pressured the Bulls’ scrum and lineout to keep them penned in but four minutes before the break prop Ben Turner was yellow carded and right on the halftime whistle the hosts hacked a loose ball upfield and their No 10 Jed Boyle easily won the foot race to touch down for a try which put them back in front 8-7 at the interval.
Starting the second half a man down,KC’s were soon up against it and a break and astute kick to the corner by Boyle put the Bulls on the front foot.They extended their lead with a second Joubert penalty and with KC’s being penalised at almost every breakdown they struggled to establish any rhythm.Pinner was the next player in gold and black to incur the wrath of the ref and be given a ten minute “rest” but KC’s showed what they are made of with three tries in the next twenty minutes.Good work by right wing Tom Maher produced ball for McLellan to put in a fine kick and establish field position for the first time in the half and a lineout drive began a phase which culminated with No 8 Layton Wilkinson plunging over to restore Kidder’s lead,12-11.Ten minutes later Wilkinson went over again and Pinner,restored to the action,added the extras.The scrumhalf then finished off a breakout from halfway with a run down the left touchline to squeeze in at the corner for the all important fourth try and Banbury had little left to offer as KC’s closed out the game relatively comfortably.
Midway through the second half this looked like a match KC’s could well lose.They were not at their best, decisions were going against them and there were constant stoppages and disruptions but they showed great character to dig deep.believe in themselves and eventually turn the tide