KIDDERMINSTER Carolians RFC maintained their 100 per cent winning start to the season by seeing off Old Coventrians 30-23 in the Midlands Division Two West (South).

Despite missing several key players because of injury, KCs made it three wins in league and cup this season with a battling performance.

Victory ensures that they share the top spot with Worcester Wanderers and Spartans after two league encounters.

They got off to the perfect start when Layton Wilkinson touched down for a try after a penetrating diagonal kick by Tom Scandrett had been well followed-up.

The referee judged his conversion attempt to be successful although home side Coventrians thought otherwise.

KCs had an escape when the hosts struck a post with a penalty kick but midway through the half they did concede, when their opponents scampered over from a five metre scrum.

Fifteen minutes later, KCs responded with a great forwards try, driving the hosts all the way to the line from a 22m lineout to allow Mark Oliver to score a touch down, while Scandrett kicked over the extras.

However, Coventrians came back again, driving over themselves from a close range lineout.

As half-time approached, KCs' rivals came within a point of the Marlpool Lane outfit thanks to a penalty to ensure it was 14-13 at the break.

But a flowing move early in the second half restored KCs advantage, after Rob Parker, Billy Bennett, Tom Maher, Scandrett and Jack Tunstall set up a ruck and the ball went along the line to give Eddie Ross an unconverted try.

Maher looked certain to score under the posts but appeared to slip and was held up inches short.

Coventrians closed the gap with a penalty but Oliver then caught a clearance kick out of defence to start a move, which ended with some twinkling footwork from Scandrett setting up a second try for Ross.

Another Scandrett penalty stretched KCs' lead to 27-16 but in the final quarter of the match they incurred the wrath of the referee, who awarded a string of penalties against them, culminating in a yellow card for Russ Gauden and a penalty try for Coventrians.

But Scandrett made sure of victory and capped a fine performance with a drop goal late on.

KCs tackle mid-table Old Laurentians at home in the league on Saturday (3pm start).

KCs ladies recorded their second win of the season in the National Division Two this year as they defeated Dudley Kingswinford.

Laura Huntbatch (2), Katie McGowan, Haley Slater and Laura Romeo score the tries. McGowan also kicked three conversions.