A BATTLING display by Kidderminster Carolians RFC could not prevent them going down 19-18 to Spartans in the Midlands Division Two West (South) on Saturday.

Defeat meant that KCs suffered their third league defeat in a row and their second by a narrow margin.

The loss saw them drop to eighth in the table, the first time they have been in the bottom half of the table this season.

But KCs must be wondering how they lost this match against mid-table rivals after powering into an 11-0 lead.

They started well and took the lead with an Andy McLellan penalty after the visitors' front row was penalised at a scrum.

Another penalty opportunity was missed, but shortly afterwards McLellan made no mistake when Spartans backs strayed offside and at 6-0 ahead KCs looked comfortable.Fifteen minutes later, scrum-half Mark James broke free and fed McLellan, who made good ground before being bundled into touch deep in Spartans territory.

From the lineout, the visitors could only kick hastily into touch and KCs won their own ball cleanly to set up a catch and drive, which ended with a try for prop Mark Oliver, his third of the season.

But KCs failed to capitalise on their strong position and Spartans sparked into life five minutes before half-time, when they pounced on a stray pass and grabbed a converted try.

The home side were then stunned early in the second half, when a converted try allowed Spartans to take a 14-11 lead.

KCs found themselves trailing by eight points moments later, after Spartans took advantage of some poor tackling to grab a third touch down.

The hosts tried to respond and fly-half Tom Scandrett pulled a lifeline back, when he scythed through the visitor's defence to score, which was converted by McLellan.

Despite heaping late pressure on Spartans, KCs were unable to find a way through and they slumped to their third loss of the season.

KCs take a break from league action on Saturday, when they go to Aston Old Edwardians in the Midlands Intermediate Cup round two (3pm kick-off).

Elsewhere, impressive Cleobury Mortimer made it three wins in a row in the Midlands Division Four West (North), with a 60-6 win over Barton-under-Needwood.

Chaddesley Corbett emerged victorious from a Wyre Forest derby, with a 40-19 win over Stourport in the Midlands Division Five West (South).

Corbett take on Keresely at home in the Midlands Junior Vase round two, while Stourport go to Evesham on Saturday.