Match report courtesy of Martin Easton...

This closely fought local Derby saw Stourbridge Lions avenge their narrow December defeat at Marlpool Lane by the same 5 point margin and end KC’s hopes of a play off place in Mids 2 West (S).Earlsdon’s win against Leamington confirmed them as champions and Banbury’s thrashing of Spartans ensured them second place.

With the wind at their backs KC’s started strongly and a break by flyhalf George Morgan from an early ruck on Lions’ ten metre line gave them good field position which they capitalised on with a lineout steal and scrumhalf Chris Pinner sliced through the hosts’ defence to put Morgan in under the posts for a try after just three minutes,Pinner adding the extras.The home side soon had a chance to respond with a penalty opportunity from twenty five metres but after the ball was twice blown off the tee the rushed kick struck a post.Stourbridge were,however,able to set up camp in KC’s 22 and the visitors conceded a string of penalties which resulted in a yellow card for lock Alex Baldwin and the Lions made the most of their man advantage to score twelve points whilst he was off the field and establish a 12-7 lead.Firstly, their backs joined a lineout drive to crash over the whitewash wide out and then their No 8 touched down under Kidder’s posts from a pushover try,duly improved by their No 10.
A Morgan kick which found touch inside Stourbridge’s 22 then put KC’s back on the front foot and after they won the throw dummy runners created space out wide on the left but fullback Jordan Hatch was tackled just short.Nevertheless,Kidder continued to dominate territory without really threatening a score until they were held up over the line after taking a quick tap penalty.In the meantime they lost second row Chris Baldwin through injury and by the end of the half it was clear that although KC’s lineout was very productive,their scrum was in trouble.
Stourbridge re-started the second half and their kick off was secured by KC’s to spark off a tremendous minute and a half of rugby in which the ball went through countless pairs of hands and featured great offloading before the phases were finished off by Alex Baldwin for a superb team try to draw the scores level at 12-12.Ominously, Kidder were then shoved off their own scrum ball and the Lions found a good touch.KC’s throw was not straight and the resulting five metre scrum for Stourbridge looked almost certain to produce another pushover try but Kidder’s pack dug in magnificently to win a penalty and relieve the pressure.
The next real threat again came from the Lions down the left touch but a cracking Jake Evetts tackle snuffed out the danger.A bloodied Nick Martin was then forced off with a head injury and a Lions’ penalty to touch appeared to go dead in goal but the ref awarded them a five metre lineout to heap more pressure on the visitors.The threes from both sides joined in the drive but KC’s came out on top this time to earn a penalty which enabled Morgan to clear their lines.Yet again Kidder,who were trying to move the ball at every opportunity but were being frustrated by the frequent injury stoppages,stole the throw but their momentum was halted when prop Matt Rigsby became involved in a spat at a ruck and both he and his protagonist were sin binned.
Minutes later,with KC’s on the attack,an extravagant offload in midfield was intercepted by the Lions on their ten metre line and they were able to work the ball to their right wing who scored what proved to be the decisive try.The last fifteen minutes were nip and tuck but with Mitchell Hardwick also succumbing to injury KC’s ended up with their flankers playing as wingers and had to settle for the consolation of a losing bonus point.
KC’s last fixture at fourth placed Leamington will decide which of the two teams finish third and Kidder will certainly be looking to finish their roller coaster season on a high note.