DUDLEY Kingswinford progressed to the semi-final of the North Midlands Cup with a comprehensive eight tries to two derby win over Old Halesonians.

It was DK’s third win over the rivals this season and the second in a week.

As usual there was stern resistance from the OH pack, who worked hard for scant reward but they were heavily outgunned in the backs.

The first half was a turgid affair, DK’s three try 20-8 lead with the breeze and slope flattered them as they had not played particularly well but they improved dramatically after the break to record a further five tries.

There were several changes from last week’s league game. Centres Stefan Shillingford and Gareth Davies joined the long injury list but it is hoped that these players and several of DK’s other “wounded” will be available for the last away league match of the season at Old Laurentians next week.

DK took the lead after just four minutes. A penalty catch and drive up to the OH’s line was then spun wide to centre Greg Lewis who arrived at pace and at an acute angle to shred the home cover and score an excellent debut try.

With the breeze at their backs, DK made all the early running but a yellow card for Jon Tideswell after 15 minutes for impeding a quick tap penalty for the home side saw OH’s full back Chris Hooper reduce the arrears to 3-5 with the well struck penalty.

The visitors got lucky after 18 minutes when a poorly directed Halesonians pass was neatly intercepted by DK right wing Nick Adams who ran 40 metres to touch down at the posts. Gareth Bown converted for a 12-3 lead.

This was a little hard on the home side who were beginning to put DK under a little pressure and Ttey replied with a very good try after 20 minutes.

A strong forward attack down the right hand side followed by a slick break blind saw fly half Ryan Watkins in for an unconverted score.

Fourteen man DK were vulnerable at this time and pulled some rather risky strokes, in fact with a little more composure the home side might well have scored a couple of tries.

But restored to 15 players, DK resumed the offensive and Gareth Bown increased their lead to 15-8 with a 29th minute penalty. Jamie Ramsey then looked to have scored a fine individual try after 35 minutes but the referee was well behind play and perhaps unsighted.

DK pounded the home line and in stoppage time the ball was spun wide from a 5m scrum out to Jak Davis who rounded the cover to score.

The visitors increased their lead on 45 minutes after taking a heel against the head, good breaks from Ed Parry and Rich Kelley opened up the OH cover for Tom Weaver to steal in.

OH’s rallied strongly and should have scored on 48 minutes but the ball was dropped over the goal line.

This seemed to deflate the home side who must have hoped to profit from the elements now in their favour and DK began to look ominously strong.

A fifth DK try however duly arrived after 56 minutes. Good breaks from James Jefferson and Jak Davies again broke the OH line and Lewis smashed through the remnants of the OH’s defence for his second try of the day. Bown added the conversion for 8-32.

OH’s managed to respond straight from the re-start when an excellent break from centre Carl Robinson saw him race 50 metres for a fine individual try to make it 32-13.

DK played some very good rugby in the last quarter, scoring three further tries in the process.

A straightforward three-quarter move after 62 minutes again put Jak Davis in space and the winger responded by sprinting through for DK’s sixth try. Then, after 68 minutes, Ramsey broke in a wide arc from a scrum 30 metres out to outpace the overworked OH cover for a fine score. DK’s eighth and final try on 72 minutes came after a searing break from Jefferson was carried on by Jon Higgins, and the scrum half’s measured pass found Robbie Jones who powered in.