Rugby: Kidderminster Carolians prove to be up for the cup

The triumph came after their first win of the campaign – 18-17 against Cleobury Mortimer in Midlands 2 West North – the weekend prior.

Jess Smith powered over to open the scoring for the KCs, with skipper Chris Pinner adding the extras with an excellent conversion in windy conditions.

A spell of pressure saw the visitors awarded a penalty, which Pinner dispatched with minimum fuss to extend the advantage to 10-0.

Lock Jack Tunstall finished off a fine attacking move for a try, Pinner off the mark this time around as KCs took charge.

After a quiet period, the second-half stalemate was broken 10 minutes from time when Matt Grainger went over in the right corner, Pinner making a terrific conversion.

The hosts managed a converted try but it was too little too late as KCs saw out a deserved victory.

Next up is a trip to Crewe & Nantwich for a league game on Saturday.

Also in the competition, Walsall lost 36-8 at Droitwich.

In the Midlands Senior Vase, an exhausting encounter at the County Ground saw Stafford lose out by a single point to Long Eaton.

It was 0-0 at half-time and the visitors got the first points of the game just after the interval, courtesy of a penalty.

Josh Arnold was released for an unconverted try for the hosts, but it was Long Eaton who grabbed the win thanks to another penalty.

Stafford agonisingly missed three of their own as they went down 6-5.