HIGH-FLYING Kidderminster Carolians hit second spot in Midlands Three West (North) with a 23-8 success over promotion rivals Bridgnorth.

But despite the great home victory, team boss Phil Knowles was not crowing after KCs were lucky to survive the first period.

They are now one point behind Aston Old Edwardians who beat Old Halesonians 24-10.

Knowles admitted: "We struggled in the first half but got it together in the second and got through on pride and energy.

"I thought Eddie Ross was the pick of our team. He attacked and covered well, while James Lloyd Jones showed us what he is capable of and is learning quickly.

"Our experiment with positional changes was not altogether unsuccessful."

Bridgnorth will look back on a first half of misses that could have given them the points on Saturday.

KCs' experiment of moving hooker Stuart Such to scrum-half was in some ways fruitful but although the points margin looks impressive, they have yet to strike real form.

They came alive in the second half when they had the visitors on the rack for long periods.

But it could have been a different result if a Bridgnorth player had not stumbled five yards from the line in the opening minutes.

KCs missed an early penalty but Andy Stooksbury made amends minutes later to give his side a 3-0 lead.

But with 20 minutes gone Bridgnorth took the lead as Karl Owen crossed following a series of five-yard scrums.

Full-back Giles Farringdon hit the post with what appeared an easy conversion.

It was a fairly even contest but Bridgnorth somehow managed to miss three penalties between the 29th and 38th minutes.

They led 5-3 at half time but should have been in the home straight.

KCs finally took the initiative from the 50th minute after superb passing set up skipper Adrian Taft to score although he suffered a muscle injury in the process and was replaced.

Bridgnorth came storming back with stand-off Simon Pennington making up for previous misses and putting over a penalty to make it 8-8.

Within two minutes, KCs regained the lead with another good try.

Teenage centre James Lloyd Jones had begun to show some form in the second half and one of his runs put Ben Turner over for a try converted by Stooksbury.

KCs were well on top and Stooksbury kicked another penalty before Lloyd Jones rounded off a good display with a try five minutes from the end.

Bridgnorth 35 KCs 2nds 25

KCs suffered a bad reversal after they led 25-8 at half time.

Tries from Ben Stanier and Andy Webber gave them a good start, while Iain Crockett added a try, two conversions and two penalties.

Bridgnorth scored a try and a penalty to trail at the break.

But it all went wrong in the second period as KCs went to sleep and the home side took advantage with three tries and a conversion.

Back-row Andy Barrett had a good game.

KCs 3rds 17 Bridgnorth 32

Both sides fielded strong backs which gave many scoring opportunities in a close match.

The first half was tight with the visitors leading 17-10.

KCs scored two tries through Geoff Mills and Tom Such but their pack rallied in the second half.

Good tackling prevented them scoring and they lost David Price with an injury.

Bridgnorth scored two more tries but Mills scored his second for KCs.

Ken Bickley converted the try but Bridgnorth left them with too big a task when they scored yet another unconverted try.

Mark Oliver and Jordon Hackett performed well for Kidderminster.

Fixtures, Saturday: Leek v KCs, 1sts and 3rds away, 2nds home (2.15pm kick-offs).