FOURTH-placed Kidderminster Carolians won 10 of their 18 Midlands Three West (North) in a somewhat inactive season for the first team.

They only played 27 games in total, some five or six less than normal, and failed to make much progress in cup competitions with a first round RFU Intermediate Cup exit to Ledbury.

KCs made a great start to their league campaign with eight victories to sit at the top of the table by Christmas time but their bid to improve on the previous season's third-placed finish hit rocky ground in 2003.

They recorded just two successes out of the remaining eight games, including defeats to struggling Willenhall and Shrewsbury.

Without such a good opening, KCs could have been sweating on relegation as five out of 10 teams were demoted at the end of the 2001-02 campaign.

KCs scored 614 points and conceded 540 throughout the season with the leading try-scorers being Ambro Neri (10), Richard Wakefield (9) and Dan Quinn (7).

Andy Stooksbury kicked 34 conversions, 19 penalties and three drop goals to be in line for a Rugby Roundup award.

KCs started by defeating Shrewsbury, Willenhall and Burntwood before a 21-32 home defeat to eventual champions Aston Old Edwardians.

The Marlpool Lane men also saw off Shrewsbury in the North Midlands Cup, while defeating Newport, Stoke, Bridgnorth and newcomers Burton.

KCs were again defeated at bogey team Lichfield and although they beat Bridgnorth prior to Christmas, they were dumped out of the North Midlands Cup 74-0 by Luctonians.

There were a number of blank Saturdays in 2003 although it was sometimes a blessing in disguise due to their injury list.

They closely defeated Old Halesonians to begin the new year well and then hammered Newport 61-5 before disappointing away defeats to Stoke and Aston.

A narrow committed 19-18 success at Burntwood was followed by a poor home defeat to Willenhall, one of the poorest sides in the division.

KCs lost at Shrewsbury in another display best forgotten and were lethargic in losing to Lichfield before a final-day defeat at Burton when they again let a lead slip away.

A reasonable season was not helped by injuries but the younger players are improving at a great rate.

The seconds had an exceptional campaign, winning the new Merit Table competition with 13 wins out of 14 fixtures, scoring 860 points in total.

They failed to secure their own 2nds XV Cup with a defeat to Old Halesonians but continued to prove a good breeding ground for up-and-coming players.

Russell Slater bagged 16 tries with Barry Turner adding 14 and Iain Crockett 11, while Tom Oakes kicked 27 conversions and seven penalties.

Crockett scored just under 200 points this season at all levels.

The thirds' skipper had the toughest job with players often being promoted to the seconds on Saturday morning or even lunch-time.

KCs won 13 of their 27 games as Peter Gurr scored nine tries and Spencer Crockett 24 conversions and seven penalties.