KIDDERMINSTER Carolians retained the North Midlands Shield after coming from behind to beat Veseyans 23-16 in the final at Dudley Kingswinford.

It took the defending champions a long time to wake up and they gave Veseyans a 10-point lead.

KCs pulled level three times in the second half but it was only when left wing Ryan Tiene crossed three minutes from time that they led for the first time.

Veseyans full-back Ed Saunders scored a try after five minutes and wing Jon Fellows converted and kicked a penalty.

But KCs reduced the deficit to three points when Ryan Wainwright went over on the stroke of half-time and fly-half Rhys Pritchard converted.

Pritchard landed a penalty a minute into the second half to level and then traded penalties with Fellows.

Tiene made certain of victory for KCs with a well-worked try down the short side which Pritchard converted.

It was Kidderminster’s third Shield title following their success in 2006.