Bletcher wants massive effort (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Bletcher wants massive effort

3:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sportsview

HEAD Ian Bletcher believes Kidderminster Carolians will need to produce another huge effort in Saturday’s showdown with top three rivals Droitwich Spa.

KCs currently occupy third place but with their county rivals only two points behind the game at Marlpool Lane (3pm ko) will be crucial.

Kidderminster go into the clash on the back of a massively important 33-27 win at Dunlop, where they had to pull out all of the stops to secure the win.

But Bletcher is hoping there is still fuel left in the tank.

He said: “It was an absolutely committed and courageous display by the team at Dunlop but I am keeping my fingers crossed that we have got something left in the tank for Droitwich.

“We’ve got two cup finals and it is hard to maintain that sort of level of performance for two matches.

“Even the England team have struggled to do it which illustrates how hard it is.

“But we will want to defend our home record and obviously keep pushing for success.”

Saturday’s game was a helter-skelter affair which was won by two second half tries by Mitchell Hardwick and Andy McLellan.

Bletcher felt his side also stood up well to some cynical play by the home side.

He said: “Dunlop had one player who was 26 stone and while he wasn’t running around like a spring chicken it was clear he knew how to play rugby.

“At some point in rugby you have to put your body on the line and I thought everyone of them did that.

“We showed tremendous courage as Dunlop did their best to intimidate us at every opportunity.

“I don’t like singling out people for praise but Mitch Hardwick’s try was exceptional and for an hour Alex Thompson gave us blood, sweat and tears before he came off.”

KCs will welcome back Matt Rigsby after he missed the Dunlop game because of illness.