GUTSY Kidderminster Carolians collected valuable points with a surprise 20-10 victory at high-flying Willenhall in Midlands Three West (North).

Their second win of the season was one to savour for KCs who travelled without several first teamers and expected the worst against a side who had won five from seven games.

They were the better side in the first half but wasted several chances to open their account and fell behind 7-0 before the interval.

Full-back Adrian Taft's tackle was ruled to be high and Willenhall scored a try through Alistair Rogers from the resulting penalty move.

Ian Harris kicked a good conversion to leave KCs, without any recognised centres and second-row forwards, some hard work ahead to stay in the game.

The visitors put the Willenhall pack under pressure and it paid off in the 64th minute with Andy Stooksbury kicking a penalty try to level the scores.

Harris quickly kicked a penalty to restore the home side's lead but KCs forged ahead for the first time with a good move starting on the right wing.

Taft delivered the ball to winger Ambro Neri and he sailed in for an unconverted try.

Stooksbury was just short with a penalty from the half-way line before scrum-half Brett Toole went over for a second KCs try.

They had their tails up and Stooksbury was on target with a penalty in stoppage time to complete a deserved clear-cut victory.

Director of rugby Phil Knowles said: "Considering we were several players short, we once again dug deep and showed our character.

"Coach Ian Bletcher has certainly sharpened the players up and two who have not had much rugby recently, Cliff Tomkinson and Dave Allsopp, were in great form.

"Bruce Hodges filled the role as a second-row forward with all his old enthusiasm. However, it was a team effort and one they can be proud of.

"Some players are not returning as soon as we had hoped but those filling their places will take some shifting."

KCs have a rearranged fixture on Saturday at home to bottom-of-the-table Dixonians.

KCs 2nds 45 Worcester 7

The seconds romped to victory in a good spirited game, inspired by the on-song Iain Crockett.

James Guest bagged a hat-trick of tries, added to efforts from James Whitehouse, Matt Greene, Rob Preston and Dan Lowe. Crockett kicked five conversions.

Jack Tunstall, Guest and Whitehouse all impressed in a good team display, along with the experienced Preston, Barry Turner and Greene.

KCs 3rds 12 Dudley-Kingswinford 24

Despite a rare defeat, KCs played well and were 12-5 ahead at half-time through tries from Lawrence Potter and a Matt Woodward conversion.

But Dudley recovered with three tries and two conversions in the second period, although Spencer Crockett performed well for the Kidderminster side.

Fixtures, Saturday: KCs 1sts v Dixonians, 2nds v Droitwich, Droitwich v 3rds (all 2.30pm).