DUDLEY Kingswinford made it six wins on the spin with a hard-fought victory at Old Northamptonians.

With Jon Higgins still unfit, Simon Fletcher retained the fly half position with Matt Farrington at full back.

Greg Lewis came into the centre in place of Tom Weaver and Nick Adams replaced Lewis on the left wing. Al Francis returned to loose head prop in place of Dan Shakespeare with Adam Blackford replacing Luke Greenwood at hooker.

Shaun Griffiths returned at second row with Ian Langford continuing as the other lock in the absence of skipper Ollie Shakespeare. With Tui Asi Pito also unavailable the back row was re-shaped with Jon Tideswell at openside, Pete Knight blindside and Tom Bissell at No 8.

DK made a good start with Stef Shillingford coming close with a couple of strong breaks in the opening exchanges. Simon Fletcher put the visitors 3-0 ahead on six minutes with a penalty.

ON’s hit back strongly with a series of strong attacks, which saw lively scrum half Matt Ireland very much to the fore.

It was fast and furious stuff, DK had a glorious chance to score after 19 minutes when good play from Jordan Brookes and Pete Knight took play up to the ON’s line but a wayward final pass saw the moment lost.

DK then lost Griffiths to a yellow card for retaliation and ON’s piled on the pressure using a very effective rolling maul, but the visitors dug deep and excellent defence saw them awarded a penalty under their own posts after ON’s infringed.

DK increased their lead after 27 minutes. Fletcher missed a long range penalty for the visitors but they quickly regained possession and good play from Duncan Chance and Pete Knight saw the ball slipped inside to hooker Adam Blackford, who cut a fine angle to score close in. Fletcher added the conversion to make it 10-0.

The ON’s No5 then got a yellow card and DK upped the ante to mount a series of attacks on the home line.

After 37 minutes Greg Lewis was held up in the corner and from a set scrum 12m out Tom Bissell broke quickly from the base to drive over the line for a classic No 8’s try. Simon Fletcher again converted for DK to lead 17-0 at the break.

The hosts opened the second half with a series of determined assaults but the visitor’s defence held firm and after taking the pressure in their stride, DK came back to score a crucial third try after 55 minutes.

A fantastic break out of his own half saw Matt Farrington step four defenders then outpace a couple more before feeding inside to Duncan Chance who scored with ease. Fletcher’s conversion saw DK’s lead up to 24-0.

ON’s stepped it up again with another prolonged attack on the DK line and this time a supreme effort culminated in No 8 Ian Rogers drive over for a deserved try converted by fly half Tom Goodman.

It looked as though it might be a tense last quarter for DK but Farrington again took charge to score a stunning individual try to earn the bonus point and seal the game.

The home side redoubled their efforts and profited from a mix up at the base of a DK scrum when open side flanker Sam Howes stole the ball to touch down a consolation (u/c) 70th minute try.