Old Yardleians 7 - 22 Kidderminster Carolians

On a blustery afternoon KCs followed up their first win of the season last week with a comfortable win in the second round of the RFU Intermediate Cup at Old Yardleians.

KC’s first impact on the game came in the tenth minute with an attack sparked by strong runs in midfield by second row Simon Clarke, prop James Rigsby and then number eight Jess Smith.

The ball reached Jake Shellis on the left wing who appeared to be impeded when he tried to chase his kick ahead into the in goal area but the ref saw nothing untoward and gave a 22 drop out.

After winning a penalty on five metres KCs opted for a scrum from which, for the second week running, Smith powered over to open the scoring and skipper Chris Pinner added the extras.

Yardley probed but failed to find a way through KCs' lines but the flow of the game was disrupted by unforced errors.

On the half hour a surge by Smith started an attack which culminated with a penalty for KCs thirty metres out which Pinner dispatched.

A break by prop Ryan Wainwright then had Yardley scrambling back to hold up KCs on the tryline but more good close range work by the forwards was expertly finished off by lock Jack Tunstall to increase the lead to 15-0 at half time.

The second half began slowly but after five minutes a Yardley line-out on KCs' fifteen metres was overthrown and went straight to Smith.

He ran upfield to Yardley's ten metre line where debutants Matt Grainger and winger Kieran James maintained the momentum before the No 14 was tackled into touch.

Yardley began to see more of the ball without ever raising any major concerns for the visitors' well-organised defence.

Ten minutes from time the second half stalemate was broken when Pinner worked the short side from a ruck deep in Yardley's 22 to put Grainger in at the right corner.

Pinner improved the try with a terrific conversion from the touchline.

A flurry of late penalties for Yardley put late pressure on KCs who eventually conceded a converted try.

KCs travel to Crewe & Nantwich for a league fixture on October 14 (3pm).