Kidderminster Carolians 7, Moseley Oak 32

COMMITTED Kidderminster Carolians could not dent Moseley Oak's perfect record in the Midlands Division Two West (North).

Carolians produced a wholehearted display but found their Birmingham opponents, who boast a squad packed with players with experience of higher levels, too strong.

Moseley began the game at pace, moving the ball wide with quick hands and they took the lead after seven minutes with a simple penalty in front of the posts by flyhalf and captain Ollie Thomas.

The visitors continued to monopolise possession and territory and Kidderminster were having to work very hard on the back foot to keep them at bay.

The home side were breached when Moseley's slick passing stretched the home defence and allowed Duncan White to touch down and Thomas to add the conversion.

After 23 minutes, a promising KCs move posed an attacking threat for the first time but the ball was lost forward.

On the half hour mark they fell further behind when Oak’s centre Paul Cox cut through for their third try.

Kidderminster tried to take advantage of a rare slip when Andy McLellan and George Morgan combined but the move broke down when a pass to Josh Winfield missed the target.

Moseley’s power,excellent ball retention and expertly drilled lineout driving mauls kept KCs fully occupied for the remainder of the half and they did well to reach the interval trailing by only 15 points.

Four minutes into the second half, Moseley’s forwards got over the line but McLellan did brilliantly to get underneath the ball carrier and prevent the try.

But the reprieve was shortlived as just two minutes later White ploughed over for his second try, which was again converted by Thomas.

Carolians were enjoying some success in the set scrums and they prevented further damage when they were able to force a Moseley five metre scrum into reverse and clear the danger.

Moseley were then reduced to 14 men when replacement Josh Murphy was shown yellow but they were still able to put more points on the board with a try by prop Simon Homer.

KCs continued to compete for the entire 80 minutes and with the last play of the match, Morgan stabbed an astute grubber kick through Moseley’s defence and with a terrific turn of pace won the foot race to dab down under the posts for a deserved consolation try.

Club captain Chris Pinner, making a welcome return to the side after breaking his hand in the first league match of the season, duly converted and Kidder were able to leave the field with their heads held high.