Both sides came into this local derby very much in form,each having lost only once in their last six league games,and although Stourbridge deservedly won the bragging rights by completing the double over KC’s the visitors crucial losing bonus point means that they only need a win in their last fixture on 11th April at home against rock bottom Tamworth to be assured of third spot in Mids 2 West (N).
On the wide Stourbridge pitch Kidder were handicapped by the absence through injury of two of their most elusive runners,George Morgan and Josh Winfield,and although they had the advantage of a strong wind the first threat came from the hosts No 14 Duncan Chance who came off his wing from a Stour scrum on their own 22 to set off on a penetrating diagonal run which took him all the way into KC’s 22 and when he switched the ball inside the home side had numbers to spare but a knock on let Kidder off the hook.The reprieve was,however,short lived when with nine minutes played Chance again got his hands on the ball and cut inside the cover to cross unopposed for a 5-0 lead.
After twenty five minutes a penalty kicked to touch five metres from Stour’s line at last gave KC’s field position for the first time but the throw went astray and nothing much was going right for them until a quick tap by scrumhalf Chris Pinner on the half hour mark initiated a sustained attack in the hosts 22 and an improvised basketball type pass by flyhalf Rhys Pritchard to Mike Protheroe gave the flanker room down the short side to go over for the equalising try wide out on the right and Pinner’s excellent conversion put Kidder ahead 7-5.
Seven minutes later from lineout possession near halfway right wing Alex Thompson popped up in midfield to dent Stour’s first line defence and the forwards took the ball on to win a penalty just outside the 22 which Pinner confidently knocked over but from the re-start a good aerial claim by the Lions was backed up by some slick handling which put centre Harry Wainwright over for a fine try which he converted himself to edge the home side in front 12-10.On the stroke of halftime a high tackle gave Pinner another penalty chance from slightly closer range which he snaffled up but KC’s had not used the wind to their best advantage and their narrow 13-12 interval lead looked worryingly vulnerable.
Surprisingly,Kidder dominated territory in the opening second half exchanges and after six minutes a third Pinner penalty added another three points but the re-start was carelessly knocked on and from the scrum in KC’s 22 Stour moved the ball left.A missed tackle gave fullback George Tillesley an easy run in for a try which Wainwright converted to nudge the Lions ahead 19-16 and two minutes later a wind assisted Wainwright penalty from near the ten metre line extended the lead to 22-16.A Pritchard break fizzled out through a lack of support and Stourbridge effectively put the game to bed when openside Scott Langdon galloped away from a scrum on their own ten metre line and a weak KC’s tackle allowed him to cross for a bonus point fourth try,again improved by Wainwright to open up a commanding 29-16 cushion.
Although down,Kidder were not completely out and following an attack down the left led by fullback Jordan Hatch the ball was moved right and replacement second row Jack Tunstall almost got over.KC’s were now battling hard to try and rescue the match and after pressurising Stour into two yellow card offences in quick succession they soon made their numerical advantage count when lock Alex Baldwin powered over from a scrum ten metres out.Pinner,who had his kicking boots on, added the extras to make it five out of five and,importantly, close the deficit to six points.The thirteen men of Stourbridge then successfully managed to keep the ball in their forwards to deny KC’s any further scoring opportunity and close the game out whilst Kidder for their part were happy enough to settle for an invaluable losing bonus point.