KC’s volunteers,including head coach Ian Bletcher,cleared the pitch of snow to enable them to stage the only match played in Mids 2 West (South) and their endeavour was rewarded as they returned to winning ways with yet another bonus point win against an Upton side who made them work hard and at times belied their bottom of the table position.
With five minutes played KC’s first fluent passage of play won a close range penalty which was easily converted by flyhalf Chris Pinner and inside ten minutes they extended the lead to 10-0 following a counter attack from their own 22.When left wing Rich Sollum gained possession he made good ground before passing inside,the ball bouncing forward off a Carolian knee before being hacked on over the tryline.Centre Laurence Hughes won the foot race and Pinner added the extras.
KC’s were bossing the scrums and midway through the half they scored a really good try when some superb build up play kept the ball alive despite the difficult conditions and the flowing move was finished off by Layton Wilkinson.With the bit between their teeth KC’s launched another sustained attack which Upton,at full stretch,could only stop illegally.Kidder took a tap penalty which saw No 8 Rob Delahay held up over the line but with the hosts overwhelmingly on top the visitors were resorting to desperate tactics to keep them out and had two players yellow carded within a minute for preventing almost certain tries by coming in from the side at rucks.KC’s took immediate advantage from the last infringement,opting for a five metre scrum from which skipper Delahay plunged over to put them ahead 20-0.
On the stroke of halftime Kidder conceded a try which really should not have been allowed to happen against thirteen men.From a five metre lineout Upton set up a rolling maul and KC’s inexplicably stood off and allowed the depleted visitors to drive over and reduce the arrears to 20-5-Nonetheless,KC’s were still in pole position and a routine win looked on the cards.
The start of the second half,however,saw Upton growing in confidence and with their back row impressing they were looking nothing like a side with only one win to their name all season.They were employing a kicking game to good effect,constantly putting the ball behind KC’s and making them turn in the gluepot conditions.Kidder,on the other hand,had gone completely off the boil and the visitors deservedly narrowed the gap with a thirty metre penalty.Restored to full strength,Upton charged down a KC’s clearance kick from their own in goal area for their second try and the conversion brought them to within five points of the hosts.Kidder now had a game on their hands but a Pinner penalty two minutes later from in front of the posts gave them some breathing space at 23-15 and they were at last waking up.Their cause was helped when Upton were given a third yellow card and the fourteen men paid the price when youngster Mitchell Hardwick crossed for KC’s bonus point fourth try,improved by Pinner.Shortly before the whistle Wilkinson set up a ruck right on Upton’s line and prop Matt Rigsby burrowed over with Pinner again adding the extras to secure another valuable five points.
Next game : Bedworth (A) – Saturday 2nd February.