Kidderminster Carolians 12-27 Earlsdon

ON a blustery afternoon KCs were blown off course by an indisciplined start which saw them concede five early penalties.

The first score in the third round RFU Intermediate Cup clash went to Earlsdon when the the hosts were marched back ten metres for disputing a decision.

Earlsdon’s Terry Hicks took full advantage to knock over the kick from just outside the 22 for a 3-0 lead.

Hicks added a conversion after Earlsdon right wing Josh Darcy cut through the midfield for a try after KC's lost line-out ball on the their 22.

KCs began to find their feet in the game and applied pressure in the scrum and their opponent's hooker Dale Bowyer was yellow carded for a late tackle.

Despite this period of pressure Kidder were unable to fashion a clear scoring opportunity and a long Earlsdon kick into their in goal area handed the advantage back to the away side.

At the 22 drop out KCs were adjudged to have been intentionally offside and the referee controversially awarded Earlsdon a penalty rather than a scrum.

The kick at goal was missed but Earlsdon retained the initiative without adding further points to make the score 0-10 at half time.

KCs began the second half brightly but again fell victim to poor discipline when Rob Phillips was shown a yellow card, apparently for not following the referee’s instructions and walking away when the official wanted to speak with him.

The strong running of Earlsdon's Josh Darcy, outside centre Paddy Darcy and fullback Leo Caddock had Kidder’s fourteen men at full stretch and it was no surprise when No 8 Andy Forsythe crashed over for the visitors second try after 55 minutes.

Another KC’s scrum penalty on halfway did bring brief respite with a run down the right but a wave of Earlsdon attacks almost inevitably ended with their No 14 again slicing through some fragile tackling to dot down under the posts and the conversion stretched their advantage to 22-0.

It was now one way traffic and Earlsdon’s winger strolled over with embarrassing ease for his hat-trick try but with the game won and their place in the next round now assured the visitors took their foot off the pedal and KC’s rallied.

They were rewarded with two tries in the closing minutes as firstly second row Jess Smith plunged over from a quickly taken free kick close to the Earlsdon line with skipper Chris Pinner adding a well struck conversion.

Then the last attack of the afternoon saw Tiene finish off a move down the right.

Next week KC’s return to league action at home to Leek (KO 2.15 pm).