KIDDERMINSTER Carolians RFC found in-form Aston Old Edwardians too-hot-to-handle on Saturday as they suffered an 18-3 loss in the Midlands Intermediate Cup round two.

Up against a home side who boasted a 100 per cent record in the Midlands Division Two West (North) and had only conceded 23 points in five games, KCs knew they were facing an uphill battle.

Early pressure by the hosts was rewarded with a successful penalty kick after just five minutes but KCs levelled the scores with an Andy McLellan penalty, after a late tackle on scrum-half Mark James.

Good scrummaging by the away side gave them a penalty opportunity which was unfortunately missed but Aston made no mistake when the referee deemed a KCs' tackle in midfield to be illegal. In contrast, McLellan missed a penalty and they went into the half-time break trailing 6-3.

Playing up the slope into a strengthening wind in the second half, KCs produced a gutsy defensive performance and kept the well-drilled Edwardians at bay for 20 minutes, before they succumbed to a try.

Having already lost second row Chris Baldwin with a shoulder injury, the away team were forced into a major reshuffle when winger Richard Sollum limped off with a hamstring problem.

Jordan Hackett came on at scrum-half with James switching to full-back, McLellan moving to centre and Sam Binnion shifted to the wing.

Despite the disruptions, KCs continued to put up stout resistance but struggled to trouble the dominant home side.

Ten minutes later, the hosts secured their place in the next round with a converted try and could afford the luxury of hitting the upright with a penalty kick in front of the posts in the dying moments.

Despite defeat, KCs came off the pitch with a good deal of credit, particularly the forwards who more than held their own for the whole game.

KCs return to action in the Midlands Division Two West (South) on Saturday away at Barkers Butts.

Cleobury Mortimer suffered a narrow 18-13 defeat to Dudley Wasps as they went out of the Midlands Junior Vase in round two.

Stourport suffered the same fate away a 20-5 away loss at Evesham.

Cleobury will be hoping to bounce back in the Midlands Division Four West (North) when they go to Cannock on Saturday.

In the Midlands Division Five (West South), Chaddesley Corbett go to Birmingham CS and Stourport entertain Claverdon.