A FIRST defeat in six years to rivals Bridgnorth put a dent in Kidderminster Carolians' Midlands Three West (North) title bid.

They lost 20-10 as the Shropshire side won every game down to fourth team level in a bad weekend for KCs.

President Ian Wilson led a party of 18 sponsored walkers across 16 miles to watch the local derby but must have wondered why the team did not match their successful efforts.

New signing Neil Shillingford was paraded at number eight after joining the club from Dudley-Kingswinford.

Injuries forced veteran hooker Mark James back to duty, while Andy Stooksbury returned along with Rob Parker who had not played for around two seasons.

KCS had a good first half and should have made more of possession and territorial advantage.

But Bridgnorth led 8-7 at half time with winger Giles Farrington opening the scoring with a 27th minute penalty.

Five minutes later, KCs took the lead as James picked up a loose ball after a line-out and a good drive enabled Jason Sunderland to claim the opening try.

Stooksbury converted but the visitors then contrived to squander chances and their lead.

A good passing movement from the Bridgnorth half produced a try for centre Karl Owen.

KCs lost their way in the second half and nothing went right.

Bridgnorth stand-off Simon Pennington had a field day with his kicking, adding three penalties by the 70th minute.

Opposite number Stooksbury kicked one in the 53rd to make it 10-14 but it was the nearest KCs came to winning the match.

They drop one place in the league but are still in with a chance of promotion.

KCs travel to Pershore on Saturday for a friendly before entertaining Telford the week after in the league.

They will need to improve to get a result with tough side Pershore mid-table in the South section.

KCs 2nds 19 Bridgnorth 30

An even first half saw KCs just 13-12 behind with tries from Will Hill and Ben Stirling.

Iain Crockett converted one of them and Carl Whitehead added a third try at the start of the second period.

Crockett's conversion put the home side in front but Bridgnorth eventually romped home.

Bridgnorth 27 KCs 3rds 0

KCs failed to score any points but there were plenty of pluses.

There was a good show from James Rowley and New Zealander Andrew Campbell.

Campbell, from the same school as Austin Leavy and now based at Winterfold, looks a good prospect.

KCs 4th/Vets 12 Bridgnorth 51

Bridgnorth played one or two Colts which proved a problem to the older KCs team.

Dave Jones and Geoff Mills scored tries with the latter converting his own score.

Meanwhile, in the Kidderminster Carolians 2nds Cup round one, West Midlands Police beat Selly Oak 38-7 and Old Halesonians defeated Aston Old Eds 27-5.

Fixtures, Saturday: Pershore v KCs, 1sts and 3rds away, 2nds and 4ths home (kick-off 2.15pm).