Kidderminster Carolians RFC 73 - 19 Newcastle (Staffs)

KCs ran in 12 tries against bottom side Newcastle to return to winning ways.

The home side welcomed back a number of players who have been unavailable through work commitments and injury, and they took advantage of the perfect playing conditions.

The KCs pack dominated throughout, to create space and provide quality possession for their backs, who scored all of the tries.

KCs opened the scoring in the first minute, after Tom Maher broke through the defence from deep and set up a ruck in the Newcastle half, drawing a penalty which skipper Chris Pinner converted from the 10 metre line.

KCs had a wake up call direct from the resulting kick off as they failed to claim the ball, and Newcastle retained possession for a number of phases, before spotting a gap on the blind side to score the first try of the match.

KCs then took control as Andy McLellan darted over under the posts after a number of drives by the forwards drew in the Newcastle defence, for a converted try. A break from his own half by Arthur Morgan then found Pinner in support, and when he was tackled he offloaded to Rhys Pritchard who sprinted over in the corner for a second try.

With 15 minutes gone KCs stretched their lead after George Morgan broke through in midfield to get behind the Newcastle defence, and the move was finished off when McLellan placed a grubber kick into space for Jake Shellis to latch on to out wide for another try.

Loose passes and poor tackling allowed Newcastle's dangerous backs to bring them back into the game with two converted tries, reducing the lead to a single point after 30 minutes. However, KCs improved their execution for the remainder of the half, with Scott Lovell stealing possession to set up Pritchard for his second try, converted by Pinner, and then another George Morgan break opened up the visitor's defence before his pass to Shellis created a fifth try, and a half time lead of 32 - 19.

KCs were extremely clinical at the start of the second half, as they kept the ball alive with excellent support play and offloads, to continually break through Newcastle's defence, and they scored three further tries in 10 minutes, through Shellis, Arthur Morgan and George Morgan, one of which was converted. This burst of scoring put the game well out of reach for Newcastle, but to their credit they continued to try to attack whenever they had possession. KCs' defence held firm though, and as Newcastle tired, the home team's backs took advantage of the steady stream of quality ball from set pieces and breakdowns.

George Morgan touched down again after a deep kick from McLellan put Newcastle under pressure in their own 22 metre area, with Pinner adding the conversion. Shellis then completed his hat-trick when he sprinted onto another grubber kick, and was followed onto the score sheet shortly afterwards by George Morgan who finished a counter attack launched by replacement fullback Mike Humphries.

In the final five minutes Shellis and George Morgan both scored their fourth tries, with Pritchard adding a conversion with the last kick of the game.

This resounding victory, a result of forward domination and creative running and support play from the backs, will give KCs confidence as they try to climb up the league table. They are away at Saltleians on Saturday, where they always face a tough battle, and will need to build on this performance if they are to come away with another victory.