Kidderminster Carolians 27 Banbury 37

KIDDERMINSTER Carolians tasted their first defeat in six games as they lost a pulsating battle of in-form sides in the Midlands Division Two West (South).

The Marlpool Lane were edged out by a late try in a game where the lead swapped sides on several occasions.

KCs will have to be happy playing their part in a thrilling encounter and have to settle for a bonus point after scoring four tries.

Both sides had to contend with strong winds but KCs went ahead after ten minutes, when scrumhalf Chris Pinner almost got over before lock Alex Baldwin cross the whitewash.

Four minutes later, left wing Laurence Hughes dotted down under the posts with an interception score from just inside Banbury's half and the conversion by flyhalf George Morgan gave the home side a healthy 12-0 lead.

The hosts continued to have the better of things but inexplicably lost their way and Banbury hit back through with a try for centre James Heywood.

The away side then made it 12-10 when hooker Andy Ell for a try which put them right back in the mix at 12-10.

Banbury then went ahead after just before half-time, when skipper Ed Phillips went over for a third try.

KCs got back on level terms when Morgan slotted a penalty just before the half-time whistle.

Kidderminster needed to regroup but just three minutes into the second period Banbury’s influential fly half Alex Fogavini broke through three weak tackles to run in from the ten metre line for a try under the posts.

Fogavini was controlling the game and one of his passes saw Heywood win a foot race to touch down for his second try the visitors had a 27-15 advantage.

KCs replied to drag themselves level.

First, Chris Baldwin touched down and when Banbury had a player sin-binned, the home team took advantage when Chris Pinner darted over for a try and Morgan converted.

With a quarter of an hour still to play, it looked as though the home side might go on and win the game but the visitors weathered the storm and created an overlap on the left which fullback Carl Daniels exploited to cross for the decisive try.