KIDDERMINSTER Carolians will be hoping for a cup tonic this weekend after a depressing league defeat to the Midlands Three West North bottom club.

KCs entertain Droitwich in round three of the EDF Energy Senior Vase at Marlpool Lane on Saturday.

But Andy Stooksbury's men will have to raise their game considerably to progress after last weekend's sorry 20-10 reverse at Old Yardleians.

KCs produced their worst performance of the season against the division's basement club, who were able to avenge last season's North Mids Shield final defeat.

The Marlpool Lane men conceded an early converted try and struggled to build up any momentum due to some controversial refereeing decisions and the stop-start nature of the game.

KCs first threatened with a long range Stooksbury penalty which struck the crossbar and they seemed to have got back into the match when winger Eddie Ross powered over in typical fashion.

But Yards responded almost immediately when their scrum-half scampered 40 metres through some weak defence to score under the posts.

The try was converted to leave the home side in front by 14-5 at half-time.

Having already lost prop Rocky Wright through injury, things went from bad to worse for KCs when front row Chris Jones was sinbinned and Yards converted a penalty.

An opportunist kick and chase try by scrum-half Mark James gave them hope, but it was soon dashed when Yards converted another penalty 10 minutes from time to clinch only their second win of the season.

Stourport stormed back to winning ways with a 34-0 victory over Rugeley in Midlands Five West North.

Despite an edgy start, Stourport got going after 20 minutes when flanker Rop Phillips' try opened the scoring.

They dominated the rest of the match with flying winger Ed Osborne crossing the line and Stu Wilson adding the extras.

Leading 12-0 at half-time, Stourport really made their superiority count in the second-half with further tries from Phillips, Toby Lee and Adam Wyton along with two more conversions and a penalty from Wilson.

They travel to Bromyard in the first round of the North Mids Cup on Saturday.

Stourport seconds won 41-10 at Evesham thirds in the Merit Table with tries from John Connolly (2), Phil Randell, Mark Andrews, Like Genner, Greg Wood and Andy Rex with three conversions by Luke Johnson.

The thirds beat Handsworth 24-8.

A Steve Morris penalty was all Cleobury Mortimer had to show for their efforts as they slumped to a 30-3 home defeat to Worcester Wanderers.

It was their seventh defeat of the season in Midlands Four West South and keeps the Love Lane men bottom of the table.

Paul Harding's struggling side have a free weekend to regroup.

Chaddesley Corbett may play last weekend's scheduled Midlands Six West South West clash at Warley this Saturday after postponing the original fixture because of a lack of props.