KIDDERMINSTER Carolians' Rugby Club recent dip in form continued on Saturday when they slipped up at Bridgnorth for the first time in six years.

The Marlpool Lane side, who led the Midlands Three West (North) table for December after a stirring run, dropped to third following the 20-10 away defeat.

KCs had Andy Stooksbury back at stand-off and Rob Parker his partner at scrum half after a two season lay off. Injuries to forwards saw veteran hooker Mark James back on duty, and at number eight they paraded new signing Neil Shillingford who had joined them from Dudley-Kingswinford.

KCs enjoyed a good first half and should have made more of the possession they won. However, it was the home team who led 8-7 at the break.

Winger Giles Farrington put Bridgnorth on the scoresheet with a 27th minute penalty, but five minutes later KCs took the lead.

Bridgnorth lost a lineout and KCs hooker Mark James pounced before a fine drive saw Jason Sunderland go over for the opening try. Stooksbury converted to give his side a 7-3 lead.

KCs continued to squander chances and with the first half coming to an end, they surrendered their advantage. A good passing move, which started in the Bridgnorth half, produced a try for centre Karl Owen.

In the second half KCs lost their way. Nothing went right and Bridgnorth stand-off Simon Pennington had a field day with his kicking.

He kicked four penalties while his opposite number, Stooksbury, slotted over one to make it 14-10, but it was the nearest KCs came to winning the match.

* Bromsgrove maintained their Midlands Two (West) title bid with a convincing 46-7 win at Shrewsbury. The victory keeps them second in the table, two points behind Old Laurentians with a game in hand. It was not such a good day, however, for county's two sides in Midlands Three West (South). Evesham went down 26-5 at Keresley while Pershore were edged out 8-6 at Leamington.

In a division lower, Droitwich slumped to a 15-3 home defeat by Ledbury while Stourport were beaten 23-3 by new leaders Southam. In North Midlands One, Bromyard went down 18-0 at Edwardians, Redditch saw off bottom side Warley 55-0 and Tenbury went down 12-7 at Veseyans.