Stourbridge Lions 14 - KCs 26

KCs, the current holders of the North Mids Shield, were made to work very hard in this quarter-final tie against a spirited and stubborn Stourbridge Lions.

The hosts were much changed from the team who had suffered a first league defeat of the season a month ago by a single point against Kidderminster.

The first quarter of an hour was all KCs but despite wave after wave of attacks and a penalty opportunity in front of the posts which was badly missed they had nothing to show for their domination.

KCs found themselves 7-0 behind when a loose pass in midfield was snatched up by the Lions’ outside centre who galloped away to score under the posts for a sucker counter punch try, converted by their scrumhalf.

The visitors' response was immediate. From a quickly taken penalty halfway between Stour’s ten metre line and their 22 centre George Morgan stabbed a grubber kick towards the right corner, his brother Arthur won the foot race to touch down wide out and reduce the arrears to 7-5.

It was twenty five minutes before the Lions mounted any sort of meaningful attack but they were beginning to find their feet and two minutes later their other centre burst through some suspect tackling to score by the side of the posts, try converted to stretch the advantage to 14-5.

Kidder were misfiring and with Stour’s blindside standing at No 2 and pinching their lineout ball time and time again their grip on the trophy was slipping.

However, halftime arrived without any addition to the score and coach Stuart Eades made wholesale changes,bringing on Alex Royall at right wing, Matt Rigsby at prop and Alex Thompson at fullback with No15 Andy McLellan moving to flyhalf.

The revamp soon paid dividends as six minutes into the second period a strong run by George Morgan sparked a sustained attack which he eventually finished off himself with a try which skipper Chris Pinner, taking over the kicking duties, calmly converted.

KCs continued to lose lineout ball but were given a helping hand when Lions’ No 12 was shown a yellow card.

Five minutes later at a scrum twenty five metres out KCs walked Stour back to earn a penalty and opted for another scrum.

They went open from the resultant possession and although McLellan was tackled and held he managed to offload to Pinner who scampered over for Kidder’s third try to put them ahead for the first time. He again he added the extras to put the visitors in front 19-14 with just over twenty minutes remaining.

A Stourbridge scrum deep in their 22 was driven back and they were forced to take the ball back over their own goal line to give KCs a five metre scrum at which Layton Wilkinson picked up at the back and the veteran No 8 dived over Chris Ashton style for the clinching try, converted by Pinner and although there was still more than a quarter of an hour to play Kidder remained in comfortable control to secure their place in the semi-final.

KCs return to league action next week with a home fixture against third placed Walsall – KO 2.15 pm.