Despite an unconvincing display against a Stafford side whose spirited performance belied their lowly league position KC’s picked up another bonus point win to keep them in pole position for a third place finish in Mids 2 West (N) with two games left to play.
Kidder started brightly and in the early exchanges,which took place almost entirely inside Stafford’s 22,they twice came close to crossing the whitewash.The visitors were relying on the boot of their flyhalf Matt Chalmers to kick them out of trouble and completely against the run of play they opened the scoring after fourteen minutes when their first serious incursion into KC’s territory won them a penalty.Their scrumhalf Dean Ainger waited in vain for a kicking tee to be produced and with time for the kick to be taken running out skipper Matt Walklate took control and quickly knocked over a drop goal for an unlikely 3-0 lead.
Stung by this reverse,three minutes later Kidder attacked from a lineout on Staffs ten metre line and right wing Josh Winfield and centre George Morgan made inroads to earn a penalty which scrumhalf Chris Pinner converted to level the scores.Morgan and flyhalf Rhys Pritchard then combined well to open up the visitors defence but were stopped just short and although KC’s were trying to get their running game going they were making mistakes which allowed Chalmers to peg them back with some fine relieving kicks.However,on twenty six minutes Kidder won a scrum against the head thirty metres out and Pritchard pinned back his ears with a determined run to the line for the first try of the match which Pinner improved to put the hosts ahead 10-3.
Stafford responded two minutes later with a good handling move down the right touchline and when the ball was switched infield No 7 Carl Williams scored under the posts and his try was converted by Ainger to square the scores again.
The last ten minutes of the first half were largely forgettable with both sides having their moments but neither able to establish any real control although Stafford were certainly having too much of a say in the match for Kidder’s liking and the home side,who had been somewhat ragged,needed to raise their game.
To the relief of the Presidents Day crowd Kidder began the second half in much more encouraging fashion,sparked by a fine run by Pritchard whose line breaks were a feature all afternoon,and Winfield almost got over at the right corner before play was brought back for a penalty in front of the posts which Pinner duly converted with only three minutes on the clock.From the re-start another Pritchard break put KC’s on the front foot and a series of drives was finished off by second row Chris Baldwin to open up an 18-10 advantage.The game looked there for the taking but Kidder failed to build on their early momentum and penetrating runs by Williams and No 8 Dan Smith earned the visitors two eminently kickable penalties which were both unexpectedly missed but,refusing to be deflated by these wasted golden opportunities Stafford continued to attack and good offloading in the tackle was rewarded with a converted Chalmers try to narrow the arrears to 18-17.
KC’s were wobbling but three minutes later a throw to the front of a lineout in Staffs 22 set up a ruck from which Pinner made a break and his inside pass put Pritchard over for his second try.Pinner added the extras to extend the lead to 25-17 but a dogged Stafford side were still dangerous and threatened Kidder with a five metre lineout until skipper Rob Delahay stole the throw and Pinner was able to clear his lines.
It had taken until midway through the half but KC’s were at last beginning to get on top and Pritchard dodged over from close range for what appeared to be a deserved hat-trick try but the referee had apparently already blown for a penalty to Kidder and they had to settle for three points from Pinner’s boot.Resilient Stafford countered yet again with a series of attacks in KC’s 22 which was rewarded with a try by centre Rhys Williams and after some deliberation by the ref Ainger’s conversion was confirmed as valid to reduce the deficit to 28-24.
Kidderminster were struggling to put Stafford away but four minutes later Ewan Thompson,who started in the back row but ended up at centre,was held up just short and No 7 Alex Baldwin picked up the pieces to crash over for the bonus point try,converted by Pinner.With Stafford now tiring centre Laurence Hughes picked up a dropped pass on their 22 and cantered under the posts for a fifth try,also improved by Pinner,to seal a hard earned and slightly flattering win but KC’s will need to up the ante next week in their local derby at Stourbridge Lions.