OUTSTANDING Kidderminster Carolians took advantage of an Aston Old Edwardians slip-up to hit the top of Midlands Three West North.

While KCs recorded a tremendous 32-7 win at rivals Bridgnorth, Aston suffered a shock 6-5 home defeat at the hands of Shrewsbury.

New town scrum-half Mark James, signed from Dixonians, was given plenty of chance to show what he could do on Saturday with the pack winning so much ball.

James linked well with stand-off Andy Stooksbury whose touch kicking was a feature of the team's supremacy.

Stooksbury put KCs in front with a seventh-minute penalty on a heavy pitch before the opening try soon after.

The visitors won the ball at a line-out and a good drive forward enabled Lee Southerton to touch down for a converted effort.

KCs' solid tackling kept useful Bridgnorth at bay and they went further ahead on 34 minutes.

Winger Ambro Neri fed number eight Mark Cleeton and he was quickly over the line with Stooksbury adding the extra points.

KCs clinched their third try late in the first half when Stooksbury's high kick was dropped by the Bridgnorth winger and Neri swooped.

The resulting conversion gave KCs a richly deserved 22-0 lead at the break and they remained in control in the second period though the heavy pitch took its toll.

Bridgnorth opened their account within five minutes of the restart with an Adam Smallwood try, converted by Simon Pennington.

But KCs' try tally increased on the hour when winger Andy Webber went over and hooker Stuart Such added another 10 minutes later.

Such, acting captain during Eddie Ross' injury lay-off, led from the front and was rewarded with his try.

Manager Phil Knowles was delighted as were a large travelling support.

Knowles said: "We played very well in heavy conditions. Our forwards took charge from the off and whenever Bridgnorth tried to bring their three-quarters in our boys tackled well.

"I was pleased to see how well Mark James linked up with Andy Stooksbury and this was another bonus.

"All the players and the replacements deserve a pat on the back with a special mention for coach Ross Baxter and fellow back-row man Mark Cleeton.

"Stuart Such was a great example to his men and they followed him."

KCs 2nds 12 Bridgnorth 13

A hard-fought game at a furious pace saw KCs caught napping with an unconverted try inside the first 10 minutes.

They responded with good scrummaging and driving mauls to hand Dave Allsop a close-range try.

Iain Crockett's conversion gave KCs a 7-5 interval lead and they threatened in the second half through Barry Turner and Richard Wakefield out wide.

But it was Bridgnorth who broke the stalemate with a penalty and unconverted try to regain the lead.

Jones hit back with a try following Wakefield's run but KCs were unable to score again.

Bridgnorth 43 KCs 3rds 5

A bright start came to nothing for KCs who were beaten by a strong and efficient side with winger James Bennett's try the only score.

KCs U17s 14 Camp Hill 3

The teenagers gifted Camp Hill an early penalty but went on to dominate with Green grabbing the first try.

Potter scored a superb solo effort from the half-way line with both tries converted.

The paramedics were needed in the second half due to a serious injury to a Camp Hill player and the match was abandoned as the visitors did not have enough replacements.

Fixtures, Saturday: KCs 1sts v Moseley Development, Pershore v KCs 2nds (Merit Table), 3rds v Pershore (all 2.30pm).