Kidderminster Carolians 31, Moseley Oak 39

DEPLETED Kidderminster Carolians produced another battling display as they earned a well-deserved four-try bonus point in the Midlands Division Two West (North).

KC were missing Chris Pinner, who dropped out with a pulled muscle before the game, Ben Turner, Jess Smith, Andy McLellan, Rob Phillips and Will Varley when they lined-up against their second placed opponents from Birmingham.

After a slow start, where they trailed 24-5, KC surged into a slender 31-27 lead, before succumbing to a Moseley fightback late on.

Director of rugby Phil Knowles said: “We were missing so many players but the team played very well.

“We lost the game in the first 25 minutes, but the players did tremendously well to put us ahead.

“Moseley are a very good side, they have only lost to Bridgnorth. It was a hard but fair game that both sides really enjoyed.

“They were very complimentary about us and wrote us a lovely letter thanking us for our hospitality.”

KC suffered a major blow when the influential Pinner picked up a muscle injury while practising his goal kicking in the warm up.

Centre Rhys Pritchard had to move to fly half, with Josh Woulfe filling in on the right wing for his senior debut and Mitchell Hardwick moving into the centre.

Despite a try for Pritchard, Moseley had powered into a 24-5 lead.

But a penalty try, converted by Pritchard, and touchdowns by Layton Wilkinson, Jordan Hatch and Pritchard had seen the hosts edge ahead.

Moseley responded well and as KC tired, they plundered two tries , which effectively finished off the losing side.

KC now have a free weekend, after Old Coventrians pulled out of National Cup clash, which sees them progress into the next round.

On Sunday, the Wear the Rose bus tour stops off at Marlpool Lane in order to start the excitment ahead of next year’s World Cup.

The bus will be set up for a 9.30am start and will stay until 4pm. There will be lots of England give-aways and children of all ages can experience rugby at the highest level on the bus, through a virtual reality headset.