KIDDERMINSTER Carolians were missing a host of first team regulars for their Midlands Two West (North) clash at Old Saltleians and it proved to be decisive in a 51-5 defeat.

KC’s fledgeling set of backs did not have the experience to cope with the confident home side and, although the more established pack of forwards did enjoy some success in the set scrums, they were generally second best at the breakdown.

Early Salts’ territory was rewarded after ten minutes when they disrupted a KC’s scrum 30 metres out and kept the ball in hand to cross for the opening try.

Under sustained pressure, some naïve defence, desperate passing, handling errors and a lack of game management took their toll on the visitors and Old Saltleians led 29-0 at the interval.

KCs made a number of changes after the interval including fielding three Morgans – old hand George, younger brother Freddie and debutant winger Harry.

The shake-up looked to be paying dividends when five minutes into the second period Kidderminster put together their best passage of play, going through a succession of phases before eventually being stripped of the ball in Salts’ “22”.

KC’s improved second-half performance was eventually rewarded when Salts kicked away scrum ball on half-way and a good handling move culminated in an exchange of passes down the right which put George Morgan in for a well-worked try.

Buoyed by the score, Kidderminster continued to take the game to Salts but were turned over just short of the tryline and the hosts’ scrum-half scampered down the left touch before passing inside to his No 11 who broke two last despairing tackles for a spectacular length of the field try.

With eight minutes still left to play, KC’s depleted squad suffered yet more injuries and had to battle on with just 14 players which led to a seventh Old Saltleians try for the home side.