Bletcher: Loss can be valuable (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Bletcher: Loss can be valuable

12:00pm Friday 19th October 2012 in Sportsview

HEAD coach Ian Bletcher feels Kidderminster Carolians’ young charges learned some valuable lessons in Saturday’s Intermediate cup loss at Wolverhampton.

The Marlpool Lane side were edged out 17-15 in the Black Country by their unbeaten opponents.

They nearly won the game but a late penalty miss ensured Wolverhampton progressed.

Despite that, Bletcher felt there was plenty of positives to take.

He said: “After the game we were bitterly disappointed but on reflection I think Wolverhampton just edged it.

“They didn’t have a lot of the ball but when they did they used it really well and that’s something we can certainly learn from them.

“I don’t like criticising referees but he was not up to standard on Saturday and the opposition coach and assessor thought so too.

“We tried to stick to the ethos of the game but I think we learned how to structure those situations.”

Despite the missed kick on Saturday, Bletcher feels KCs are certainly going in the right direction.

He added: “I was really pleased to see all of our kickers working very hard on Tuesday, like every area of the game it’s something we work on.

“In fact, we had to tell them to stop they were so enthusiastic.

“I thought the backs weren’t quite as devastating as they had been in recent weeks, so that’s something which can be worked on.”

Bletcher is set to hand a start to Ben Binnion after a fine substitute performance and draft in Dave Waldron at full back after impressing for the seconds, as KCs resume the Midlands Two West (South) at county rivals Upton-upon-Severn on Saturday (3pm ko).

He added: “This will be a tough game but the league is our priority this season.”