KIDDERMINSTER Carolians lost the fight for third position in Midlands Three West (North) with a final day 32-14 defeat at Burton.
They have won just two of seven league matches this year and Saturday's result followed the recent pattern.
KCs, who had beaten Burton 19-7 at home in November, established a good lead but it was reduced and then overtaken by their fellow high-fliers.
Skipper Eddie Ross said: "Once again we got our noses in front but could not sustain it. Burton were fitter and quicker around the pitch.
"The playing surface was not very good and we ended up with one or two injuries.
"As always, Mark Cleeton put in a tremendous amount of work and the pack were in good form.
"We gave away some silly tries but despite our bad run since Christmas we have finished fourth in the table which is something to be pleased about."
The home side had more territorial advantage in the first half but KCs played quite well and took the lead in the eighth minute.
The ball reached winger Ben Stirling on the left following a good drive and he touched down under the posts with Andy Stooksbury converting.
Burton reduced the arrears with a 14th-minute penalty and still looked to spend more time in the KCs half.
The visitors lost Ross who was replaced by Brett Toole and then only a good tackle by James Lloyd Jones prevented a try.
But minutes later the referee ignored two Burton offences yet awarded them a penalty which was kicked.
However, it did not take long for KCs to score their second converted try through Lloyd Jones.
Ross Baxter was short of support when he made ground down the left but they made use of the ball and the full-back dived over.
But that was the end of KCs scoring and Burton's converted try with four minutes left of the half made it 13-14 at the interval.
KCs rarely looked like breaking out to score in the second period and poor defence allowed the Staffordshire side to add three more tries with two converted.
Burton deserved to win though KCs' pack performed as well if not better than the opposition.
But though the backs worked hard in defence, they left a lot to be desired in attack with KCs seemingly struggling in the fitness stakes.
Stirling, Mark Cleeton and Stooksbury impressed but overall it was not a good team performance.
The season has now ended apart from Saturday's club seven-a-side competition.
KCs 2nds 18 Pershore 6
The seconds put the icing on the cake of their Worcestershire and Herefordshire Merit League triumph with their 13th win from 14 matches.
Forward Carl Whitehead scored the opening try and stand-off Tom Oakes added two penalties.
Pershore kicked two penalties to make the interval score 11-6 but top-try scorer Russell Slater's effort, converted by Oakes, completed KCs' account in the second half.
KCs 3rds 15 Ashbourne 18
The visitors were just about the better side in an even match played in a good spirit.
Martyn Wright scored two tries with one from a great chip over the defence, while Spencer Crockett kicked a conversion and a penalty.
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