KCs cruise to comfortable win (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

KCs cruise to comfortable win

1:24pm Monday 28th January 2013 in Local

Kidderminster Carolians 37, Upton-upon-Severn 15

KIDDERMINSTER Carolians’ efforts to get Saturday’s derby clash on paid dividends as they romped to a bonus point victory.

A small army of volunteers, which included head coach Ian Bletcher, cleared the pitch of snow to enable them to stage the only match played in Midlands Division Two West (South) against an Upton side who made them work hard for the win.

With five minutes played, KCs’ first fluent passage of play won a close range penalty which was easily converted by fly half Chris Pinner.

Inside ten minutes, they extended the lead to 10-0 following a counter attack from their own half.

When left wing Richard Sollum made good ground before passing inside, with the ball bouncing forward off a KCs knee before being hacked on over the tryline and centre Laurence Hughes won the foot race. Pinner added the extras.

KCs were bossing the scrums and midway through the half they scored a really good try when some superb build-up play kept the ball alive despite the difficult conditions and the flowing move was finished off by Layton Wilkinson.

With the bit between their teeth the hosts launched another sustained attack which Upton, at full stretch, could only stop illegally.

From the resulting tap penalty, Rob Delahay was held up over the line, but with the hosts overwhelmingly on top the visitors were resorting to desperate tactics to keep them out and had two players yellow carded within a minute.

KCs took immediate advantage from the last infringement, opting for a five metre scrum from which skipper Delahay plunged over to put them ahead 20-0.

On the stroke of half-time the home side, conceded a try which really should not have been allowed to happen against 13 men as they stood off allowed Upton to pull a try back from a rolling maul.

Upton grew in confidence in the second half and when restored they deservedly narrowed the gap with a 30m penalty and then added a converted penalty.

But a Pinner penalty from in front of the posts gave KCs breathing space at 23-15.

KCs’ cause was helped when Upton were given a third yellow card and the 14 men paid the price when youngster Mitchell Hardwick crossed for the hosts’ bonus point fourth try, which was improved by Pinner.

Finally, prop Matt Rigsby burrowed over with Pinner again adding the extras to secure another valuable five points.

KCs go to Bedworth in the league on Saturday.