KC’s knew they were in for a stiff test against a Moseley Oak side whose only defeat to date had been at the hands of runaway leaders Bridgnorth and in a match of fluctuating fortunes they ultimately came up just short.
Already missing a number of first team regulars,Kidder suffered a major blow when the influential Chris Pinner picked up a muscle injury whilst practising his goal kicking in the warm up and centre Rhys Pritchard had to move to flyhalf with Josh Woulfe filling in on the right wing for his senior debut and Mitchell Hardwick moving into the centre.Despite this set-back and although their forwards were dwarfed by Moseley’s huge pack KC’s held their own in the early set pieces and after quarter of an hour they took the lead when Pritchard chipped over the visitors’ defence and collected his own kick to cross for a fine try.
Five minutes later Moseley used their forward power to force their way over the whitewash and level the scores after a series of pick and goes and their man mountain No 5 then proved unstoppable from five metres as he crashed over under the posts for a try converted by their fullback to put them ahead 12-5.Aided by a re-start kick which did not go ten metres,the Birmingham side continued to dominate territory and they increased their advantage when a missed tackle allowed their No 12 to run in,again under the posts to make the conversion a formality for their No 15.Another poor Kidder re-start invited more Moseley pressure but the home side finished the half on a positive note when veteran No 8 Layton Wilkinson rolled back the years with a terrific burst down centrefield and Pritchard found a good touch inside the visitors’ 22,and although trailing 19-5 at the break there was still a feeling that KC’s were not out of the match if they could get enough ball to play with more width.
Unfortunately,their cause was not helped when prop Nathan Small was yellow carded only two minutes into the second period and Moseley took immediate advantage to kick the resultant penalty to touch on Kidder’s 22.From the lineout throw they set up a ruck before creating a two on one which put in their fullback for a simple try and a comfortable looking 24-5 lead,and the game appeared to be as good as over.KC’s,however,refused to lie down and ten minutes later from a lineout twenty metres out they set up a rolling maul which the visitors could only halt illegally to concede a penalty try and Pritchard’s conversion cut the deficit to 24-12.With the bit between their teeth,Kidder again established good field position from another Pritchard kick and Wilkinson made ground from the lineout before the ball was moved inside to Hardwick who went under the posts with Pritchard adding the extras to bring the home side to within one score at 24-19.
The momentum then swung back in Moseley’s favour when KC’s dropped the ball on halfway and it was hacked downfield towards their tryline.They were able to clear the immediate danger with a kick to touch but a quickly taken throw earned the visitors a penalty on the 22 and their No 15 made no mistake to give them an eight point lead at 27-19.Yet again Kidder hit back when Hardwick almost broke through before the ball was moved right to fullback Jordan Hatch whose try at the corner closed the gap to 27-24.With their tails up KC’s struck again three minutes later as Laurence Hughes and replacement Jack Tunstall punched holes in Moseley’s defence to create an opening for Pritchard to go in under the posts for his second try and the No 10’s conversion capped a remarkable comeback which edged Kidder ahead 31-27 to the delight of the large VP’s & Sponsors Day crowd.
Moseley responded by going back to basics,using their forwards to batter away at KC’s line but the home side repelled the onslaught with some tremendous defence and when they were able to relieve the pressure with a penalty to touch and only three minutes to play they appeared to be on the brink of the most unlikely of wins.Moseley,however,would not accept defeat and after they had stolen the throw their flyhalf stunned Kidder with a try at the left corner which put them back ahead 32-31.A shattered Kidderminster,who had given absolutely everything,tried to launch one last counter attack but were stripped of the ball on their ten metre line and Moseley’s winger raced away to make sure of the win with a try which their fullback converted with the last kick of the afternoon.
Despite their second half heroics, KC’s did not have quite enough to close out the match and had to settle for the consolation of a four try bonus point which was the very least they deserved for the part they played in a cracking game of rugby which was a credit to both sides.