KC’s put together back to back league wins for the first time this season with a hard fought victory over their combative local rivals and in the process picked up another bonus point,their sixth so far.

The first ten minutes of the match was all Droitwich attack and Kidderminster defence but the visitors stunned the home side when rookie fullback Jordan Hatch,who had an impressive debut,sparked a breakout from inside the 22 before linking with right wing Nick Martin who made ground and then switched the ball inside to Tom Maher and when Martin got it back he raced clear for a fine try and a 5-0 lead.
KC’s put themselves under pressure by dropping the restart and had to withstand a strong surge by the hosts’ No 8 off the back of the resultant scrum but they then launched another promising counter attack and doubled their advantage when Droitwich knocked on at a defensive lineout and Kidder recycled the ball well to create space for centre Andy McLellan to cross for a second try.

Kiddy again made a mess of the restart and compounded the error by conceding a penalty which was converted by Droitwich’s flyhalf to reduce the deficit to 10-3 with twenty minutes played but following a good catch and long kick by Hatch KC’s went through some really good phases which resulted in a top drawer team try for No 10 George Morgan.
Amazingly,the visitors dropped the restart for a third time but they were starting to play at a tempo which was putting Droitwich under pressure and five minutes later their No 10 was yellow carded.This proved costly for the home side as with their forwards beginning to rumble they had two presentable penalty opportunities but with their kicker off the pitch they missed both and Kidder went into the break with their 15-3 lead still intact.

Droitwich began the second half well on top until a terrific relieving kick by scrumhalf Chris Pinner temporarily cleared the danger but the hosts were soon back deep in Kidder’s 22 and after kicking two penalties to touch they drove over from a five metre lineout and their restored flyhalf added the extras.There then followed a twenty minute period which in the main saw KC’s take the game to the home side with centre Mitchell Hardwick making some strong runs in midfield.Kidder spurned a chance to kick a penalty which would have left the hosts requiring two scores and although they hammered away at the Droitwich line from close range scrums and lineouts they could not get over.The hosts,for their part,were met by a wall of black and gold shirts whenever they tried to batter their way out of their 22 but after winning a couple of penalties they eventually had an attacking lineout thirty metres from Kidder’s tryline.The visitors,however, stole the throw and moved the ball left to winger Laurence Hughes who showed a good turn of speed before finding Hardwick who ran clear to score under the posts for the all important fourth try,improved by Morgan.

Now 22-10 ahead with ten minutes to play,the momentum was with KC’s but they were rocked when the home side were awarded a penalty on halfway even though Kidder were playing an advantage after a Droitwich knock on.They kicked to touch and another successful five metre lineout drive plus an excellent conversion reduced the deficit to 22-17 and made for a nervy finish for the KC’s support but the restart was sensibly kicked long and Kidder pressed and harried Droitwich to keep them penned in their own 22 until the final whistle and the Wychavon side had to settle for a losing bonus point.

This was a very encouraging performance by KC’s.Although unable to prevent two tries from lineout drives,in all other respects the forwards were more than a match for the big Droitwich pack and the defence throughout the whole side was totally committed.Some of the threequarter play,so disappointing at Ledbury,was a revelation and was rewarded with four cracking tries.With more players returning from injury and the introduction of some exciting young talent,two kick and chases and follow up tackles by Jordan Hatch were outstanding,KC’s will be looking to build on this result when they entertain Dunlop next Saturday.