FLY-HALF Andy McLellan put the boot into Kidderminster Carolians RFC's relegation worries as they recorded a vital 18-13 win over Berkswell and Balsall in the Midlands Division Three West (South) on Saturday.

McLellan converted six penalties to ensure that KCs emerged triumphant from this all-important relegation dogfight at Marlpool Lane.

Victory means that KCs have risen to third from bottom, leap-frogging Saturday's beaten opponents from Warwickshire and opening a three-point gap over bottom side Old Silhillians.

After 15 minutes, KCs led 9-3 but midway through the half a wayward kick out of defence presented Berkswell with possession and after setting up a ruck they scored under the posts to reduce KCs' lead to just 9-8.

Five minutes after the interval the home team had another let off when the visitors squandered a straightforward penalty chance in front of the posts.

The unerringly accurate McLellan kicked his fourth penalty to give KCs a 12-8 lead.

However, the hosts found themselves penned back until a breakout inspired by the back row relieved the pressure.

KCs then took advantage of a Berkswell sin-binning as McLellan made it 15-8.

The home side then produced their first real flowing rugby of the match to create two try scoring opportunities in less than 30 seconds but were unable to take them.

They paid the price when Berkswell reduced the gap to two points with a try.

But KCs stood strong and from the restart a good run by second rower Jack Tunstall forced Berks to concede another penalty, before the away side lost another player to the sin-bin for throwing a punch.

McLellan kicked the three points to take the score to 18-13 but with nine minutes of time added on still to play the hosts had to dig deep, as the visitors tried desperately to find an equalising try.

Home captain Layton Wilkinson was shown a yellow card in the dying seconds and Berkswell kicked to the corner for an attacking lineout but, crucially, their throw was stolen by Chris Baldwin and KCs' kicked the ball into touch to clinch the vital two points.

KCs take on third-placed Earlsdon away in the league on Sunday.

In the Midlands Division Four West (North) Cleobury Mortimer lost 38-10 to Newscastle.

In the division below Stourport recorded their second win of the season with a 36-0 victory over Harborne.

KCs under-8s played Luctonians twice at the weekend in two evenly matched games, with Oliver millard, Jake Seaman, Cameron Billingsley, Toby Whitmore Rees, Toby Horton and Tom Wilson scoring tries.