Stafford 0, Kidderminster Carolians 34

DESPITE the convincing scoreline KCs were nowhere near their best but eventually inflicted a thirteenth defeat of the season on struggling Stafford.

The win was KC's second double and their second successive bonus point win to cement their mid table position in Midlands 2 West North.

An early penalty from Rhys Pritchard started the scoring although the visitors felt they were denied a try for George Morgan when the ref was unsighted as he touched down.

Mistakes from both teams dominated the first half, just before the break a quickly taken tap penalty by KC's skipper Chris Pinner in the Stafford 22 set up a ruck at which the hosts were penalised, resulting in a yellow card.

KCs opted for a scrum and although Morgan was well tackled short of the line the forwards piled in and No 8 Jess Smith plunged over for the opening try, converted by Pritchard for a 10-0 interval lead.

Four second half KCs tries put a different gloss on things in the second half. After ten minutes a crunching tackle by Morgan stopped the home side as they tried to run their way out of trouble and a frenetic passage of play ended with a scrum for Kidder.

The scrum ball was slow but was moved left and enough Stafford defenders were drawn in to create an overlap exploited for a try by winger Ryan Tiene.

Scrum possession for KCs close to the Stafford line was moved to the left before being switched back inside and with Jack Tunstall, Tiene and Scott Lovell all prominent space was made for inside centre Ewan Thompson to go over for the third try and Pritchard added the extras.

The restart went dead to give KCs a scrum on halfway but when a long Stafford kick found touch in the 22, the home side were able to exert some sustained pressure for the first time in the half and managed to create their only real try scoring opportunity with an overlap on the right.

The chance was missed a wild pass went into touch.

A KC's forwards drive had Stafford at full stretch, conceding a succession of penalties and their defence became increasingly desperate leading to them again being reduced to fourteen men when their No 4 was yellow carded.

KCs kept hammering away and inside the closing five minutes the elusive fourth try arrived as a clearance kick was run back at the home side.

Excellent handling by both forwards and backs was rounded off with a try under the posts for Pritchard which he converted.

There was still time for one final flourish and with the last play of the match Smith crossed for his second try.

On Saturday KCs entertain Stourbridge Lions in a much anticipated local derby (kick off 3pm).