KIDDERMINSTER Carolians secured promotion to Midlands One West with a 34-17 play-off victory over Tamworth.

The game, in front of a bumper 500 strong Marlpool Lane crowd, did not disappoint.

KC had the better of the early exchanges and after five minutes concerted pressure from their forwards with a try from Jasper Smith, converted by Freddie Morgan.

If KC thought they would now take control they were mistaken as the powerful Tamworth side were making ground and recycling the ball, this pressure told and they earned a penalty which they kicked. Further Tamworth pressure that included a missed penalty kept the crowd on their toes.

KC came back into the game after 30 minutes and when awarded a penalty on half way. They opted for a scrum and a move in the backs allowed Andy McLelland to feed Arthur Morgan who produced one of his trademark jinking runs to score his side's second try.

Pressure from Tamworth brought them a converted try to bring them to within two points but the hosts then extended the advantage to 17-10 at the break after Smith's second try on the stroke of half time.

In the first five minutes of the second half, KC forward pressure gave the ball to the backs, who with slick inter-passing found Smith for his hat-trick try.

Tamworth were not beaten and at one point were camped in the KC 22 for over five minutes but try as they might could not get over the line, each incursion stopped by the resolute defence.

KC then moved up the field and were awarded a penalty, Pinner took a quick one and good forward pressure in a rolling maul resulted in a try scored by captain Mike Protheroe.

With 15 minutes to go more Tamworth pressure and a yellow card to KC's Tom Mayer for not rolling away enabled Tamworth to score a converted try under the posts to bring them back to 27-17. Tamworth continued to look dangerous but could not make any further impact on the scoresheet.

The win and promotion was wrapped up with Chris May-Miller's converted score in the final five minutes.

The victory will see Carolians looking forward to games again Stourbridge Lions, Dudley Kingswinford and Old Halesonians next season.