Kidderminster Carolians became the first club to win the North Midlands Shield four times with a comfortable. – win over Camp Hill In today’s final at Dudley Kingswinford.
Kidderminster had been level with Bridgnorth with three wins apiece in the county’s second tier competition and had little difficulty adding a fourth – and their third Shield in four seasons – against plucky but outgunned opponents.
Kidderminster exploited perfect rugby conditions and brought their dangerous backs into play at every opportunity.
They were 24 points clear after 36 minutes with fly-half Freddie Morgan rounding off a brilliant attack for the opener after seven minutes.
Right wing Ryan Tiene then finished off an exhilarating length-of-the pitch counter attack and soon followed up with a second try after more crisp handling.
Tiene then turned provider, linking cleverly with full-back Andy McLellan who touched down before Camp Hill staunched the flow of points with a close range try from lock Shawn Lindeque.
But there was still time for Kidderminster scrum-half Chris Pinner to dart over in first half injury-time which meant Camp Hill were 22 points adrift at the break.
Lindeque was shunted over for his second try early in the second half and Ian Briggs’ conversion gave them a glimmer of hope.
Instead Kidderminster immediately cancelled out the score when number eight Jess Smith strolled through some weak tackling for a soft try.
Camp Hill’s defence disintegrated again when Kidderminster left wing Arthur Turner scored a brilliant individual try from his own 22 which Freddie Morgan improved.
Arthur Turner then featured prominently in the build up to the next try, another confident handling move from deep, which was finished by centre Rhys Pritchard.
Camp Hill had hoped to win the Shield in their 125th season to go with the North Midlands Cup they won in their centenary season in 1993/94.
Kidderminster’s superb finishing soon put paid to those hopes but Camp Hill continued to plug away and they scored a third try through Gareth Lang and fourth from number eight Steve Leach after a patient build-up.
Arthur Morgan almost brought up Kidderminster’s half century with a brilliant run that took him almost the length of the pitch but he was eventually hauled down just short of the line.
Veseyans won their first North Midlands title by beating Old Saltleians 44-0 to win the North Midlands Shield Plate.
Lewis Gaffney and Adam Spinner scored two tries apiece in the all-Greater Birmingham final.