Stourbridge Lions 29, Kidderminster Carolians 23

KIDDERMINSTER Carolians earned a bonus point to keep their hopes of a top three finish in the Midlands Division Two West (North) remains very much alive.

KCs were edged out in a well-contested local derby as Stourbridge Lions sealed a league double.

But the Marlpool Lane side need just a point in their final fixture against bottom of the table Tamworth next Saturday to seal third place.

Against Lions, Kidderminster were handicapped by the absence through injury of two of their most elusive runners,George Morgan and Josh Winfield,and although they had the advantage of a strong wind the first threat came from the hosts number 14 Duncan Chance, who touched down early on.

KCs edged into a 7-5 lead when Mike Protheroe raced down the wing to score and Chris Pinner converted.

Pinner tucked a penalty away but Stourbridge took a 12-10 lead when slick handling allowed Harry Wainwright over for a fine try which he converted himself.

But it was the away side who edged into a 13-12 lead at the break when Pinner put away a penalty.

Despite playing against the wind in the second half, Kidderminster dominated the opening stages and Pinner's accurate boot added another three points.

But Stourbridge regained the second again when George Tillesley raced through a missed tackle for an easy run in for a try which Wainwright converted to nudge the Lions ahead.

A wind assisted Wainwright penalty from near the ten metre line extended home side's the lead to 22-16.

Stourbridge effectively put the game to bed when openside Scott Langdon galloped away from a scrum on their own ten metre line and a weak KCs tackle allowed him to cross for a bonus point fourth try,again improved by Wainwright to open up a commanding 29-16 cushion.

Although down, Carolians were not completely out and following an attack down the left led by fullback Jordan Hatch the ball was moved right and replacement second row Jack Tunstall almost got over.

After pressurising Stour into two yellow card offences in quick succession they soon made their numerical advantage count when lock Alex Baldwin powered over from a scrum ten metres out.

Pinner,who had his kicking boots on, added the extras to make it five out of five and,importantly, close the deficit to six points.