For the second time this season Kidderminster put Ludlow to the sword to complete the double over the Shropshire side,amassing a staggering 138 points over the course of the two games,and this eleven try bonanza put them level with fourth placed Shrewbury who actually lost at home to Ludlow in December to graphically illustrate just how unpredictable the Mids West 2 (N) league can be.
Although they knocked on Ludlow’s kick off Kidder won two scrums against the head inside the first four minutes and from the second they moved the ball left to Josh Winfield who,already hunting for work,popped up on his opposite wing to open the scoring.His try was converted by scrumhalf Chris Pinner for a 7-0 lead which was soon extended when second row Chris Baldwin went over following a forwards drive from a lineout on Ludlow’s 22.
The visitors were not in the game for the first quarter of an hour but a measured kick to the left corner by their scrumhalf Will Norton and a kind bounce gave them field position for the first time.They shifted the ball right and when KC’s hooker Grant Jones was yellow carded for hands in a ruck close to the tryline the referee awarded a penalty try,easily improved by Norton to reduce the arrears to 12-7.Although down to fourteen men Kidder wasted little time in responding as Winfield’s searing pace saw him touch down at the right corner but Norton knocked over a penalty from twenty five metres to keep Ludlow in touch at 17-10 despite having had little of the play.
KC’s elusive runners were breaking Ludlow’s defensive line time and again but even when the visitors were reduced to fourteen men after their centre was shown yellow for a dangerous tackle several scoring chances went begging as a result of poor decision making until No 8 Layton Wilkinson barrelled over from a five metre lineout for the bonus point fourth try.Just two minutes later centre George Morgan broke clear from his 22 and chipped over the last defender before collecting his own kick to touch down under the posts.Pinner duly converted and on the stroke of halftime from lineout possession just inside Ludlow’s 22 fly half Rhys Pritchard sliced them apart like a knife through butter for KC’s sixth try,again improved by Pinner for a 36-10 interval lead.
At the start of the second half Kidder resumed where they had left off and almost scored in the very first minute.It was one way traffic and after five minutes Wilkinson,whose powerful surges were too hot for Ludlow to handle all afternoon,peeled off the side of a lineout drive for his second try and managed to get near enough to the posts to make Pinner’s conversion a bit easier.A rare Ludlow foray into KC’s 22 ended with them losing possession and Morgan,chased all the way by the visitors winger,ran up the left touchline and just had the legs to make it to the corner for the hosts eighth try and a 48-10 advantage.
Kidder then took their foot off the gas and a spirited Ludlow side were at last able to enjoy some territory.They were not helped when their hooker was yellow carded for foul play but with fifteen minutes left their efforts were rewarded when their No 13 made a fine break.The centre looked likely to score before he slipped on KC’s 22 but Ludlow managed to keep the ball alive and put in their left wing Rhys Evans at the corner for a try which was excellently converted by Norton to cut the deficit to 48-17.
Any prospects of a comeback were,however,quickly snuffed out as Kidder ran in three late tries.Firstly back row Alex Baldwin took advantage of an overthrown Ludlow lineout to cross the whitewash and then,after the visitors had wasted a couple of half chances,Pritchard used scrum possession to create an opening for replacement wing Alex Thompson and Pinner added the extras.Finally,another storming run by Wilkinson had Ludlow in full retreat and although a knock on gave them a brief moment of respite good work at the breakdown by flanker Mike Protheroe regained possession for KC’s and skipper Rob Delahay,on as a replacement after several weeks out with injury,went under the posts and Pinner’s conversion with the last kick of the match completed the rout.
Kidder maintained their post Christmas improvement with this impressive all round team performance but credit must also be given to Ludlow who,although totally outgunned for most of the match,remained committed throughout and stuck to the task right up to the final whistle.
KC’s have a break from league action next week when they host Moseley Oak in the semi final of the North Mids Shield.