Kidderminster Carolians crash out of North Mids Shield

STRUGGLING Kidderminster Carolians were dumped out of the North Mids Shield and are left to concentrate on league survival.

KCs conceded the first try after Old Salts broke from inside their own half to score a converted try and by the 15 minute mark the lead had increased to 12-0 with another try after some loose passing on the Kidder 22.

Midway through the half a sporadic Kidder attack saw Arthur Morgan weave past three or four defenders during a penalty advantage but he could not link up with Jake Shellis.

When play was brought back skipper Chris Pinner kicked the penalty from the 22 in front of the posts to get the visitors on the board.

Five minutes later KCs had a penalty opportunity from the ten metre line but the ball held up in the wind and dropped by the side of the posts.

Salts' long 22 drop out was run back at them but the counter was brought to an end by a forward pass and, after losing a lineout on their own throw, the visitors allowed Salts’ No 13 to wriggle away from some weak tackling and run in from almost halfway for his second try.

With half time approaching KCs put together their first cohesive passage of play, retaining possession whilst going through the phases and were rewarded when Jess Smith used his strength to burst through three tacklers and score under the posts for a try which Pinner converted to reduce the arrears to 17-10 at the interval.

Kidder continued to show much greater intent and resolve at the beginning of the second half and within three minutes Will Roft plunged over from a ruck by Salts posts, with Pinner’s conversion drawing the sides level.

Both teams then attempted to attack from deep only to be thwarted by unforced errors.

Following a missed Salts' penalty KC’s clearance was run back at them and some more questionable tackling enabled their fly-half to break clear and score at the right corner.

Five minutes later, at a Salts scrum fifteen metres from KC’s line, the visitors were penalised for kicking the ball out of the set piece and Salts did not hesitate to take the three points with a fairly simple kick.

Now eight points ahead the home side were straight back on the attack and from a ruck at the left corner their No 10 executed a sublime crossfield kick for the right winger to catch and dab down to extend the advantage to 30-17.

Kidder tried to respond, running a penalty in Salts 22, but the ball carrier was isolated and possession was turned over far too easily to enable Salts' No 14 to race under the posts from long range for a sixth try and a straightforward conversion.

KC's youngsters were looking demoralised and only two minutes later the hosts replacement winger skated in for another converted try to make it twenty seven points conceded in just eighteen minutes and the last quarter of the match had seen Kidderminster completely blown away.

They can at least now concentrate on trying to stave off relegation, beginning next week with a home fixture against Newcastle (Staffs) who are just three points and one place above them in Mids 2 West (N).