SKIPPER Eddie Ross was full of praise for his young players after Kidderminster Carolians opened the Midlands Three West North campaign with a 26-6 win over Shrewsbury.

Ross, currently out with a facial injury, was happy with the display as KCs proved to be the better side in a hard contest.

Although Shrewsbury defended well, they rarely neared the KCs try-line.

Ross said: "It was a pleasing result and nice to see our training sessions paying dividends.

"I was delighted to see how the younger men had performed considering we have had to make so many team changes because of injuries.

"Giovanni Iacono did well on the back row and Jason Sunderland was his usual hard-working self.

"Andy Stooksbury kicked well for touch and the pack were in good form for certain periods.

"Ben Stanier has a nice turn of speed and took his try well. Last-minute changes are always troublesome but we coped well."

KCs scored first with a good try inside three minutes as a flowing move reached winger Stanier who showed the defence a clean pair of heels.

Stooksbury converted and the home side struck again within minutes when Sunderland stole possession after a Shrewsbury line-out to touch down.

The visitors narrowed the gap with a Chris Child penalty and repeated the feat in the 37th minute.

Although the game did have some bright moments, KCs had gone off the boil, spending a long time in their own half and leading 12-6 at the interval thanks to a missed penalty.

They brightened up in the second half and when Sunderland scored his second try with Stooksbury converting, it was all over.

Sunderland had to leave the field after hurting his knee before young scrum-half Will Hill rounded off a fine display with a late converted try.

KCs open their Powergen Intermediate Cup programme with a tough home clash against Ledbury on Saturday (3pm).

Shrewsbury 15 KCs 2nds 10

A much-changed team produced a solid display with a strong defence keeping the score to 7-5 at half-time.

Paul Weston scored a breakaway try after Shrewsbury had opened with a converted effort.

The home side went over for a quick score in the second half and a penalty but KCs battled back with good phases of play.

It ended with Peter Gurr scoring a try from the wing and they were unlucky not to level when Paul Weston's touchdown was disallowed.

Phil Mees, Shaun Watts and Martin Roberts all made their second-team debuts.

KCs 3rds 15 Shrewsbury 68

Youth proved no match for experience though James Guest, Michael Shires and Martyn Wight scored tries for KCs.

Fixtures, Saturday: KCs v Ledbury, 1sts and 3rds home, 2nds away (all 3pm).