This was undoubtedly KC’s least convincing performance of the season but despite being way below their best they still had just about enough in their locker to cling on to their 100% home record against a Leamington side who belied their lowly league position.

In the opening quarter of an hour KC’s battered the visitors and were awarded a stream of early penalties which they kicked to the corner.Their lineout drives were halted time and time again by questionable defending but Leamington,having somehow managed to keep all fifteen players on the pitch,eventually capitulated when openside Ben Binnion crashed over for the opening try.

Kidder appeared to expect the floodgates to open but Leamington responded well and a sustained attack earned them a penalty which was comfortably converted by their flyhalf Tom Jewitt.KC’s restart went straight to the visitors’ right wing and when he ran the ball back at the hosts they were penalised for an obstruction offence.Jewitt nailed the kick and KC’s who, on the balance of play, really should have been well ahead instead found themselves trailing 6-5.This time they restarted to their forwards and within a minute notched up their second try when No 8 Layton Wilkinson powered over for a 10-6 lead.Some great hands in the backs almost put in winger Rich Sollum but KC’s were suddenly only a point in front when Jewitt knocked over his third penalty.A missed tackle then allowed the visitors to attack from deep and Kidder had to defend a Leamington lineout and scrum before going into the break somewhat relieved not to have conceded again.

KC’s had made hard work of the first half and the opening fifteen minutes of the second period were largely uneventful,the only scoring opportunity being a long range Leamington penalty which fell well short.Replacement back row Tom Maher did,however,inject some much needed pace into a home side who up to now had been strangely lethargic,predictable and error prone and they at last sparked into life when No 10 Andy McLellan,who had not enjoyed the best of afternoons with the boot but always looked dangerous with the ball in hand,made an incisive break before feeding Maher who made ground to set up a ruck which produced good ball for prop Matt Rigsby to cross for a cracking try.Importantly,replacement scrumhalf Chris Pinner added the conversion to leave the visitors needing two scores to win the match.A burst out of defence by McLellan and a long pass to left wing Arthur Chiverton almost resulted in another try but he was brought down just short of the line and in truth a bonus point would have flattered KC’s.
The closing stages were very much nip and tuck ,although it took a thumping tackle by Maher to deny the visitors the consolation of a losing bonus point.

KC’s could at least take heart from a solid defensive display which kept their tryline intact but Leamington probably felt a little hard done by.