More often than not,in a game of rugby between two evenly matched sides the team which makes the least mistakes will come out on top and so it proved in this local derby.
KC’s were under the cosh from the kick off and had a reprieve when they collapsed the first scrum of the match but Stourbridge missed the kickable penalty opportunity.A string of early penalties conceded by Kidder kept them penned in their own 22 but they were able to break the stranglehold when a powerful carry by No 8 Layton Wilkinson produced ruck ball which was moved along the backs to right wing Josh Winfield who skinned a couple of would be tacklers,only for the breakdown to again result in a penalty for the visitors.Another incisive run by the young winger,this time through midfield,gave KC’s their first attacking position in the Lions 22 and when Stour were guilty of not releasing Kidder went through the phases until,with no advantage accruing,the referee took play back for the original penalty in front of the posts.Stourbridge anticipated a simple pot at goal but quick thinking scrumhalf Chris Pinner took a tap to himself and from a ruck on the tryline the ball was moved to Winfield who went over in the corner for a 5-0 lead with eighteen minutes on the clock.
Five minutes later Stour missed another penalty chance and for the next ten minutes the pendulum swung KC’s way with the home side playing some good,structured rugby and following a lineout on the visitors 22 a forwards drive provided clean ball for centre Rhys Pritchard to cut back inside and although he was held up over the line Kidder went blind from the resulting five metre scrum and flyhalf Andy McLellan crashed over to double the hosts advantage to a healthy 10-0 which was halved three minutes later when the Lions skipper,No 4 Stuart Doolittle,went over from a five metre lineout drive.
An excellent McLellan kick then won KC’s a lineout in Stour’s 22 and although the throw was lost Kidder quickly regained possession to threaten the visitors again with a searing burst by centre Laurence Hughes and another elusive Winfield run.The momentum was with the home side but despite being well on top in the latter stages of the first half they found themselves pegged back to 10-8 when Stour’s No 10,Sam Wilson,converted a penalty right on the halftime whistle.Nonetheless,after a difficult start it had been an encouraging first forty minutes for Kidder and more of the same was called for in the second period.
However,straight from KC’s re-start Stourbridge showed renewed intent with a safe catch and smart offload which saw them slice through Kidderminster’s ranks and take play almost up to their 22.On the back foot,the hosts began to slip off a few tackles and with the penalty count against them also mounting the alarm bells were beginning to ring.Sure enough,after thirteen minutes Stour went ahead for the first time when an attack down the left touchline was switched inside and their hooker Fred Brooks broke a couple of weak tackles to score under the posts.The simple conversion made the score 15-10 to the visitors and with the re-start sailing directly into touch
everything was going their way until a break by Pritchard,supported by Winfield,took play up to the Lions ten metre line where KC’s won a scrum from which McLellan and Wilkinson made further inroads before a Winfield chip was shepherded into touch five metres out.Unfortunately,Kidder’s lineout had not worked well all afternoon and the throw was knocked on enabling Stour to clear their lines after a couple of untidy five metre scrums.With play now back to halfway KC’s carelessly conceded possession when they knocked on again under no pressure and they then calamitously and catastrophically tried to run the ball from under their posts,which can be a risky strategy at the best of times and on this occasion proved suicidal as some wild passing gifted a try to Lions fullback Sam Robinson.The conversion by Ben Trinham stretched the lead to 22-10 and in the blink of an eye the game had turned decisively in favour of the visitors.
Kidder tried to make amends and McLellan was unlucky when he was just unable to catch up his own kick over Stour’s defence before the ball went dead.A short lineout throw to captain Rob Delahay then set up a series of drives which saw Wilkinson held up over the line.From the resulting scrum the No 8 then clearly did get the ball down but the poorly positioned ref changed his mind after beginning to raise his arm and again ruled no try.At the next scrum Pinner was also held up as he tried to dart over but KC’s persistence eventually paid off at the next put in when the No 9’s sharp pass to Winfield sent Hillandale Caravans man of the match over at the right corner for his well deserved second try.
Now trailing by only seven points at 22-15 Kidder were at least on course for a losing bonus point but a converted try would have earned them a draw with a four try bonus point to boot but in trying to force the game they were guilty of some more sloppy passing,this time on halfway,and Lions centre Harry Wainwright was able to hack the loose ball upfield for their own fourth try,again improved by Trinham.
The final margin of 29-15 rather flattered Stourbridge whose last two tries were gift wrapped early Christmas presents but Kidder had only themselves to blame.Their ambition to play expansive rugby is very laudable but there are times when they really should perhaps consider taking a more pragmatic approach and play a bit of percentage rugby if further disappointments such as this are to be avoided.