A MUCH-IMPROVED Kidderminster Carolians will be wondering what might have been after missing an easy early penalty in their Midlands Three West (North) derby clash with Old Halesonians.

Coach Ross Baxter's side ended up losing 18-12 as the official opening of their new clubhouse drew a large crowd but failed to go to plan results-wise.

Spirited KCs matched their high-flying visitors up-front on Saturday and looked at times as if they might spring a surprise.

But the defeat leaves them in the bottom four and the club is looking for a better attitude to training in order to avoid a relegation fight.

Baxter needs a better response before he takes his players to top-of-the-league Shrewsbury next Saturday for another tough encounter.

A reduction in the injury list - the latest loss being skipper Adrian Taft with an ankle fracture - could mean further improvements on the pitch.

Inevitably after KCs early penalty miss, it was Old Hales who opened the scoring at the weekend with an unconverted try by Steve Gollings.

The return of Mark James at hooker and the line-out skills of Simon Northcott were paying dividends but good work was too often undone by poor passing and handling in the backs.

And the visitors scored a second try close to half-time through Martin Crowfoot to lead 10-0.

KCs had a number of five-yard scrums early in the second period and one of these led to a try.

Richard Ellis crashed his way into the Halesowen defence and when he was stopped, Northcott took the ball over the line. Andy McLellan kicked a good conversion to make it 10-7.

KCs were not so impressive in the second half and the visitors three-quarters looked far sharper.

Rob Crowfoot scored their third try in the 62nd minute and five minutes later Steve Vaughan kicked a penalty to increase their lead to 18-7.

But it was not for want of effort that KCs could not make any real impression on the Old Hales line and they got their reward two minutes from time.

Following a five yard scrum, they maintained the pressure. The ball came out to James who fed Ambro Neri with a lovely pass and he scored near the posts.

KCs 2nds 12 Old Hales 25

Late cry-offs caused problems for the seconds as they were defeated by their local rivals.

They were grateful to super-fit Ian Doidge, Darren Watkins and Andy Webber for playing a second game after being off the field for less than an hour.

The first half was a hard-fought close encounter with Old Hales scoring an early try, followed by a second to lead 10-0.

KCs came back and scored a well-worked try from a line-out as Carl Whitehead was driven over to make the score 10-5 at half-time.

The second half was similar to the first with the visitors scoring a quick try.

James Lloyd Jones scored KCs' second under the posts with Tom Oakes converting but Old Hales stepped up a gear, adding another converted try and a penalty to stretch their lead.

KCs 3rds 21 Old Hales 36

A good effort by KCs failed to prevent a third defeat to Old Hales on Saturday.

The thirds were soon behind to a try but responded rapidly through Andy McDonald, converted by Ian Doidge, to lead 7-5.

In the second half, a good push-over gave them another try, this time to Richard Woodward and again kicked by Doidge for a 14-5 lead.

But Old Hales piled on the pressure and scored five tries, three converted, to take a commanding 36-14 lead.

KCs still came back and scored a consolation through Richard Ash with Doidge kicking his third conversion.

KCs 4ths 17 Combined Stourport and Chaddesley 5

An enjoyable game saw the opposition breaking new and rare ground as a combined team.

KCs grabbed three tries through Warren Delo (two) and Dave Newbould struck with the former also converting one.

Fixtures, Saturday: Shrewsbury v KCs 1sts, 2nds v Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury v 3rds (all 2.15pm).

KCs U-17s 17 Pershore 5

The U-17s bounced back after the previous week's 5-0 defeat by Willenhall for a comprehensive win over their visitors.

Tom Guest chased a kick to score in the corner but Pershore equalised with a try just before half-time.

In the second half, Tom Scandrett followed up his own kick to score a try which he duly converted.

A break by man-of-the-match Joe Schreiber towards the end started a fine passing move, allowing Guest to score his second try.