IN-CONTROL Kidderminster Carolians were left wondering how they did not score more points after a 27-3 home derby win over Old Halesonians.

They stay top of Midlands Three West (North) after having their opponents on the back foot for the most of the game.

However, KCs never fully drove their advantage home and now cannot rest on their laurels.

They visit Selly Oak, who recorded a surprise weekend away win at challengers Aston Old Edwardians, on Saturday.

Skipper Adrian Taft called for KCs to be more clinical and said: "It was a good result but we should have scored far more points.

"It's nice to be clear at the top but the season has not reached the halfway mark yet.

"I thought centre Matt Smith had a very good game in defence and attack.

"With so much territorial advantage, we have to become more clinical and pile on the points."

Old Hales have a fight for survival on their hands and came up against a good KCs defence.

But the visitors started with a bang and were 3-0 up with a third minute Paul Crocker penalty.

But KCs picked themselves up and took charge, opening their account four minutes later.

A Halesowen clearance was charged down and full-back Jon Mounter went on a run deep into the visitors' half.

Mounter delivered a fine pass to centre James Lloyd Jones who touched down.

Within minutes, KCs had struck again when a long throw at a line-out went to flanker Jason Sunderland.

He charged forward and set up back-row man Simon Northcott whose try was converted by Andy Stooksbury to make it 12-3.

Northcott touched down again in the first half but the referee ruled against as he was unsighted.

Stooksbury kicked a penalty within five minutes of the second half but KCs were making hard work of a game that should have been sewn up in the first half.

Halesowen did put a few moves together but it was mostly the home side on the offensive.

The 53rd minute produced a try that cheered the local derby crowd up.

Some nice passing saw Jon Mounter come into the line and he set up former Halesowen winger Eddie Ross for KCs' third try.

A big cheer came for a try that was disallowed as Neri sprinted from deep inside his own half and passed for Mounter to score.

But Neri was ruled to have put a foot into touch which denied the try of the day.

Nearing the end, a tired Old Hales pack conceded a penalty try which Stooksbury converted.

Old Hales 5 KCs 2nds 29

A workmanlike performance in testing conditions saw the seconds triumph over local rivals.

KCs scored first after 8 minutes following good handling between Ben Stanier and Will Hill which the latter finished off.

Iain Crockett converted but it was the only score of the first half.

They started the second half well and a good break by Crockett put Barry Turner in for a try which was converted.

Halesowen applied pressure and were rewarded with an unconverted try.

It stung KCs back into action and a five-yard scrum put Hill over to make it 19-5.

The best move of the game was started by Dave Betson and followed by good rucking from Lee Southerton, Ross Wilson and Rob Preston.

This produced a try in the corner for Ken Bickley and was followed by a second for Turner.

KCs produced a good all-round display with Preston, Turner and Kevin Butler impressing.

KCs 4ths 32 Wednesbury 3rds 7

Short Wednesbury were helped out by KCs loaning enough players to make up their side.

KCs even fielded a Chaddesley player, Andy Shaw, who got on the scoresheet with two tries.

Bob Barlow, Dan Stanier, John Bodenham and Roger Punton also managed tries, while Geoff Mills kicked a conversion.

For the visitors, Billy Smart scored a try which was converted by Mark Hughes.

Doug Anderson played well at fly-half and there were good displays from Bodenham, Pete Round and Stanier.

Fixtures, Saturday: Selly Oak v KCs, 1sts and 3rds away, 2nds home (2.15pm).