DIRECTOR of rugby Phil Knowles praised a youthful Kidderminster Carolians side after they recorded a spirited 26-21 win at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Despite missing 11 first team players, KCs held their nerve to win an entertaining encounter and end a two-game losing run.

“It was a surprising win because we were missing so many people and had a young team out, but it shows our work coaching the seconds is working,” said Knowles.

“The whole team put in an excellent performance and we had people who were playing out of position, so it was a big effort.

“They all deserve praise and Chris Pinner did very well, he scored two excellent tries.”

KCs found themselves five points behind with less than a minute played when Wolves bagged a try.

A penalty extended their lead but Pinner’s accurate boot made the score 8-3.

Wolverhampton then extended their lead when they scored a well-worked try.

But Pinner sparked the fightback when he finished off a mazy run by touching down.

Encouraged by this score, KCs then produced their best spell of rugby and went into the break trailing 15-8.

In the second half, Pinner bagged a second try and added the extra points before putting the away side ahead for the first time with a penalty.

The Kidderminster scrum half was denied a third try by a last-ditch challenge.

Mike Protheroe finished off a lineout drive to extend KCs lead to 23-15 before both teams swapped penalties.

While a late kick sealed a bonus point for Wolverhampton, KCs had recorded an important victory, which saw them leapfrog their opponents to move into fourth place in Midlands Division Two West (North).

Knowles added: “Even when we were trailing I felt we were in the game. Wolverhampton have some big players but once we scored our first try, they weren’t going to like chasing the game.”

Kidderminster Carolians go to Ludlow on Saturday (3pm kick off).