THE Midlands Three West (North) relegation threat was almost certainly removed by Kidderminster Carolians after a 32-5 success over bottom club Newcastle.

Although the scoreline was convincing, KCs could have scored more against the side they drew with in September.

Newcastle looked as if they might spring a surprise in the opening 10 minutes and they took the lead with a good try.

The shock spurred KCs into action and they started to look the better side.

However, it took them until the 21st minute to go ahead when they moved the ball around from a free-kick and centre Andy McLellan went over for a try that stand-off Andy Stooksbury converted.

Matt Grenne, the other centre, repeated McLellan's effort with Stooksbury's conversion making the score 14-5.

KCs increased their lead before half-time with a Stooksbury penalty and added a try in eight minutes of injury time played.

Following a line-out, second-row forward Matt Bennett crashed over and Stooksbury added the extra points.

The biggest feature of the second half was the referee's whistle as the visitors were penalised for spoiling tactics although only one player was sin-binned.

It did nothing for the game but made sure KCs could not take advantage of the huge amount of possession they had.

Stooksbury kicked a penalty in the 48th minute and it took until the closing minutes for KCs to score again. Leading try scorer Ambro Neri was on the mark.

There were some bright spots, like the pace and commitment of centre Dan Quinn who came on in the second half.

Mark Oliver also showed that with more training he could be catching the selectors eye. Injuries to skipper Adrian Taft and second row forward Paul Blackmore, who both played well, were a blow but a week's break from league rugby will help.

KCs 2nds 23 Bromsgrove 41

A slow start for KCs in a tough fixture allowed Bromsgrove to grab two converted tries.

But the home side played some excellent rugby despite the setback and reduced the lead to 14-13 at half-time.

Martin Wright and James Lloyd Jones went over for tries, while Ian Crockett kicked a penalty.

However, two handling errors let Bromsgrove in for second half scores to make the score 28-13.

KCs rallied with a try from Simon Wilks, the first team second-row forward who is returning to fitness.

Ben Stirling managed another after the visitors added a try and penalty.

KCS 3rds 68 Bewdley 1sts 0

Bewdley paid a first-time visit to Marlpool Lane and it will be one they would not have relished.

KCs scored five tries in the first half-hour through Russell Slater, Ken Bickley, Ian Doidge, Rob Preston and Dave Betson.

Tom Oakes converted two, making the half-time score 29-0.

Slater, Bickley, Matt Such, Roger Punton and Oakes added further scores, while the outstanding Doidge completed his hat-trick. Oakes kicked two more conversions.

Fixtures, Saturday: KCs 1sts v Worcester Wanderers (1pm), Old Saltleians v 2nds, 3rds v Old Saltleians.

KCs U-17s 26 Nuneaton 12

The home side gifted a try to their opposition in the first few minutes but Phil Howes soon scored in the corner to level.

A number of changes at half-time saw Ben Stanier run in two tries and a fine driving maul enabled James Hine to add another. Tom Sherriff converted all three.