DUDLEY Kingswinford lost their 100 per cent home record with a disappointing defeat to Whitchurch.

The sides shared six tries but Whitchurch deserved the win, they played simpler, basic rugby and predictably their error count was far less than the home side’s.

During the game DK must have had 70% of the territory and almost as much of the possession failed to capitalise in dint of their dire ball retention.

Centres Stefan Shillingford and Tom Weaver were both out and fly half and DK playmaker Gareth Bown limped off at half time.

Bown’s injury was a huge blow as he had already sliced through the Whitchurch rearguard on a couple of occasions to provide excellent but ultimately squandered first half opportunities. Mike Jones came in for Tom Weaver and Matt Taylor continued in Stef Shillingford’s absence.

Whitchurch were penalised in DK’s first attack and Gareth Bown kicked DK 3-0 ahead after 2 minutes but the visitors soon hit back, taking the first scrum of the game against the head and driving the home pack 20 metres back.

DK transgressed and Whitchurch fly half Dan Nicholas levelled the scores at 3-3 on six minutes.

The home were living dangerously and in an attempt to run the ball out of their 22 lost possession, only a superb tackle from wing Robbie Jones prevented Church full back Henry Huckenhull from scoring.

The visitors were not to be denied though and after 13 minutes excellent play from their back row set up their veteran tighthead prop Russell Beano Lear for a 25metre unchallenged trundle to theposts, Dan Nicholas converting.

DK levelled after 18 minutes when they took a five metre scrum against the head and scrum half Gareth Davies was over the line before the Whitchurch defence could react, Gareth Bown converting to make it 10-10.

Dan Nicholas restored the Whitchurch lead 10-13 with a 21st minute penalty and the lead was increased just before the break when scrum half Adam Churton galloped in unchallenged from halfway.

Gareth Bown was caught offside in front of the DK posts at the onset of the second period and the unerring Dan Nicholas stroked over the penalty to stretch the visitor’s lead to 10-23.

DK then began to turn the screw, penning Whitchurch inside their half for long periods but poor options and at times discipline cost them at least three possible scoring opportunities.

DK finally got over the line after 64 minutes when Stefan Thorp was driven over following a lineout 5m out. Simon Fletcher converted for 17-23 and the DK show was back on the road.

Simon Fletcher added a 67th minute penalty to make it 20-23 after almost constant pressure and a home win seemed a probability at that stage.

There was an unsavoury incident on 70 minutes when a cowardly punch from behind by Whitchurch second row Gareth Wills resulted in DK’s loose head prop Richard Kelly having to leave the field with a badly cut mouth. Unfortunately the referee did not see it and the miscreant escaped a card.

Perhaps the disruption momentarily affected DK’s focus as Whitchurch mounted their only concerted attack of the second half after 71 minutes. Good play from their forwards took the ball into the DK 22 where it was moved out to wing Thomas Krank to score wide out.

Dan Nicholas celebrated a 100 per cent return from the boot with superb touchline conversion to make it 20-30.

DK would not lie down and Gareth Davies scored his second try of the day after more furious pressure on the Whitchurch line after 76 minutes to make it 25-30 but despite further heavy pressure DK ran out of time.