KIDDERMINSTER Carolians are back on the promotion trail after an impressive 19-6 win at Telford in Midlands Three West (North).

The victory took them up to third in the league, just a point behind leaders Aston Old Edwardians.

In truth, the game was a poor spectacle and Telford will be kicking themselves for not scoring any points in the opening 20 minutes when they pegged KCs back in their own half. Eddie Ross' try saving tackle in the 13th minute showed just which side had started the best. The visitors, though, went ahead in the 32nd minute.

Telford lost the ball following a scrum and KCs worked the ball out to the left. Ambro Neri headed for the line and scored a nice try. Andy Stooksbury converted to make it 7-0.

KCs always looked dangerous when they moved the ball out, and the same could be said for Telford on more than one occasion. Within three minutes Stooksbury had kicked a penalty to extend the lead, but Telford scored their first points when stand-off Andy Halliday was on the mark with a penalty just before half time.

Telford were on the scoresheet again within four minutes of the second half. Halliday added a penalty to make it 10-6. Stooksbury, however, cancelled out that score with a penalty of his own and then hit two more as KCs sealed victory.

After the final whistle, a delighted Stooksbury said: "We made hard work of it, and never established a good enough platform. It was a pleasing win at a ground where we never do very well."

There was not such good news, however, for Pershore in Midlands Three West's southern section where they went down 25-15 at Keresley.

Their promising start to the season is being threatened by a string of injuries limiting a small, first team squad. Even with last minute changes Pershore should have won this game.

A poor start saw Keresley score an interception try under the posts, duly converted, but the lions share of possession in the first half belonged to Pershore, continually making breaks in midfield through Ben Pullin.

The forwards also made holes through Jem Richardson and Andy Watson, but all they had to show for their possession was a converted Pullin try, kicked by Robin Haines.

Some dubious refereeing decisions added to further frustration for Pershore and soon into the second half it got worse as prop James Smith and Captain Andy Watson had to leave the field due to injuries. Keresley capitalised on a disrupted scrum, and scored two pushover tries, to stretch their lead but Pershore showed great character by playing some fine rugby in the last 15 minutes and were rewarded with an unconverted Phil Green try.

In the same league, Evesham slipped to third from bottom following a 22-10 defeat at Silhillians.