Kidderminster Carolians 44, Old Saltleians 29

KIDDERMINSTER Carolians ended a four-game winless run to put second-placed Old Salts to the sword in the Midlands Division Two West (North).

KCs romped home with a six-try bonus point success to get back on track.

The game was evenly poised in the opening stages, with the away side opening the scoring when Tom Burrows touched down and Lewis Beatty added the extras.

But Kidderminster levelled soon after when Layton Wilkinson touched down and Chris Pinner converted.

Kidderminster edged into a 15-7 lead when Josh Winfield cut inside for a try and Pinner kicked a penalty.

But in a topsy-turvy game, Saltleians edged ahead when they scored two unconverted efforts.

Burrows extended Salts’ lead with a break away try but Winfield crossed over to make it 22-20.

Carolians began the second half strongly, shoving Salts off their own scrum ball and then winning turnover on their 10-metre line.

After a sustained spell of pressure, Jack Tunstall crashed over to restore Kidderminster’s lead and Pinner converted.

The hosts lived dangerously but they extended their advantage to 12 points when Andy McLellan blasted his way through the visitor’s defence. Pinner added the conversion.

Freddie Morgan let Salts off the hook when he missed a penalty attempt.

Two successive penalties to the visitors enabled them to make progress into Kidderminster’s 22 and Burrows went over to complete his hat-trick, which Beatty increased with his kick.

But McLellan coolly dropped a goal to relieve some of the pressure.

George Morgan then stretched over for the try and Pinner kicked accurately to seal a memorable win.

Kidderminster Carolians entertain Veseyans in the semi-final of the North Mids Shield on Saturday afternoon (2.30pm ko).