Carolians squander lead as Camp Hill hit back

A NARROW defeat at the hands of a powerful Camp Hill unit leaves Kidderminster marooned in fifth place in Midlands Division Two West (North).

KCs are nine points clear of Stafford in sixth but 15 shy of Wolverhampton in fourth.

Carolians made a blistering start, storming into a 12-0 lead inside the opening seven minutes.

Grant Jones burrowed over for his first senior try after good work at a lineout and skipper Chris Pinner duly converted.

Arthur Morgan then held off two tacklers to finish well at the corner after good play by Pinner and George Morgan.

Camp Hill responded and although they were temporarily reduced to 14 men while injured second row Dan O’Grady received treatment.

KCs were undone when they carelessly kick directly into touch from outside their 22, which allowed Camp Hill to hit back through a try for flanker Harry Cunningham that was converted by fullback Ian Briggs.

The visitors now had their tails up and just three minutes later, playing a penalty advantage, flyhalf and skipper Simon Edwards followed up his own clever grubber kick to touch down under the posts and Briggs’ routine conversion edged them ahead 14-12.

With 25 minutes played a missed penalty to touch put KCs on the back foot again and Camp Hill’s strong direct runners behind the scrum were looking increasingly dangerous.

In an absorbing contest the two sides continued to trade blows but the next real opportunity fell to the home side when they were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks.

Pinner’s kick struck a post and rebounded straight back to him and the scrum half tried to make amends by instigating a series of attacks in Camp Hill’s 22, which produced three successive penalties in the danger area but no tangible reward.

A Garryowen by fullback Andy McLellan was knocked on by the visitors on their 22 and from the scrum and subsequent rucks George Morgan made a break down the short side which opened up Camp’s defence but the final pass did not quite go to hand.

The hosts began the second half in much the same vein as the first and four minutes in some fine attacking phases were finished off by George Morgan as he latched on to an astute kick by McLellan and crossed for a try, which Pinner converted to make it 19-14.

Kidderminster were breached again when left wing Rob Freeman accepted a pass from fellow wideman Mark Lisle to run in a simple try which Briggs improved to regain the lead at 21-19.

Briggs then went over for the bonus point try which he improved himself with his fourth successful conversion.

KCs were trailing 28-19 but they were handed a lifeline when Edwards was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on.

However, they were unable to get their lineout working correctly and could not break through streetwise Camp Hill.

Pinner had a try ruled out for a foot in touch but KCs late pressure saw Arthur Morgan score, ensuring two bonus points for the home team.

On Saturday, Kidderminster Carolians are away to Handsworth (2.15pm ko).

KCs' under-14s defeated Dudley Kingswinford 46-0, while the development squad saw off Malvern 76-0.