LEAGUE postponements meant Kidderminster Carolians took on Old Halesonians in a friendly on Saturday and triumphed 27-26.

But the match, which was originally scheduled for December, was not one to savour until KCs started to get their act together in the second half.

KCs' crucial Midlands Three West (North) visit to Stoke was called off due to a waterlogged pitch but they will try again on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Aston Old Edwardians took over at the top with a 60-18 thrashing of lowly Newport.

Old Hales, who play a division below in Midlands Four West (South), looked the better side in the early stages of the weekend friendly and went ahead through Seb Rose's penalty.

However, KCs, who played poorly but were not helped by controversial refereeing, forged in front following a try by flanker Kristian Taylor.

Rose hit the upright with a penalty before his side regained the initiative through Dave O'Rorke's try on the half-hour mark.

John Lewis added their second try, converted by Rose, to make the score 15-5 at the interval.

Rose kicked a penalty after just two minutes of the new half but missed an important second five minutes later.

KCs began the comeback with Ambro Neri's 51st-minute try giving them the spark they badly needed.

The Marlpool Lane men had scored again within five minutes through coach Ross Baxter with Andy Stooksbury converting.

Rose was on target with another penalty but on 70 minutes KCs' second-row forward Matt Bennett added a try to give his side the lead for the first time in the game.

They were not finished as centre Dan Quinn dived over to put them 27-21 ahead but there was more to come.

Old Hales finished off a good try with three minutes left but the dependable Rose pulled his crucial conversion wide.

KCs can count themselves lucky to have won after such a poor first-half display but in the later stages they pulled out all the stops and looked the better of two off-form teams.

KCs 2nds 22 Worcester Wanderers 7

The new Merit Table has seen KCs seconds clinch eight wins from eight starts.

They dominated the set-pieces against Worcester and their backs made great inroads with good attacking play but poor finishing let them down.

Iain Crockett jinked through from 30 yards out and converted to give KCs an interval lead.

Russell Slater added a breakaway try in the second period and Crockett kicked a penalty.

A Worcester charge-down brought them back into contention with a converted try but KCs rounded off a good win with Brett Toole adding the extra points to Giovanni Iacono's effort.

KCs 3rds 8 Dixonians 15

There was no luck for the thirds after a good success the previous week.

But they led 8-0 at the interval after Spencer Crockett's penalty and a well-taken try from scrum-half Ben Stirling.

Some good defending kept Dixonians at bay in an even encounter with KCs' centre Bob Barlow playing well.

But the visitors started strongly in the second half and grabbed two tries, one conversion and a penalty to seal the win.

Fixtures, Saturday: Stoke v KCs 1sts, 2nds v Droitwich, Droitwich v 3rds (all 2.15pm).

l As the Stoke game on Saturday may be postponed again due to the weather, KCs supporters are advised to check the rugby club website at www.kcrfc.org.uk