DUDLEY Kingswinford were soundly beaten as National Three Midlands league leaders Rugby Lions ran in ten tries.

The home side did shoot themselves in the foot from the outset by gifting the Lions two early tries through poor kicking out of hand, a situation from which they never really recovered.

While DK never lacked for effort, they found it increasingly difficult to compete with the higher level of skills and fitness displayed by the ultra professional Lions outfit.

Lions have had a dire past few seasons and were in steep decline prior to being rescued by a local multi millionaire former player who has funded a complete overhaul of the club and playing staff. He has a five year plan for Lions to go all the way to the Premiership and former England and British Lions back row Neil Back is the man in charge.

Heathbrook’s biggest gate of the season around 700 plus were regally entertained and could only admire the finely honed skills on show and the visitors incredibly effective support play. Just a shame it happened to be DK on the receiving end.

Pete Knight returned at flanker and was the only change from DK XV that started at Newport.

DK made the worst possible start, with wayward kicks allowing Lions winger Adrian Hales to run in tries after four and six minutes, both converted by Lee Hinton to open up an early 14-0 lead.

The home side hit back strongly to reduce the arrears after eight minutes when Jon Higgins broke the Lion’s line with a neat dummy and sent in Stefan Shillingford at the posts. Simon Fletcher converted to make it 14-7.

DK enjoyed their best spell in the match as they took the game to the Lions to the delight of the crowd but were unable to find a way through a very capable cover defence. Instead it was Lions who increased their lead on 29 minutes when, after quick handling put Rob Brown into space, the winger brushed past three rather ineffective tackles to score close in. Hinton added the extras for a 21-7 lead.

The wheels were beginning to come off for DK as Lions further increased the tempo.

After repulsing a couple of strong drives DK were penalised and Lion’s hooker Dan Oselton was driven over following a lineout catch and dive for an unconverted try to make it 26-7.

Another strong drive on the DK line saw flanker William Brock over in the corner in stoppage time and Hinton again converted for a half time score of 33-7 to the Lions.

A superb miss pass from Higgins would have given DK a good opportunity to open the second half with a score but the ball was spilled.

Lions quickly re-grouped and quick direct running shredded the home cover for Brock to score his second try after 43 minutes. Hinton converted for Lions to go 40-7 up.

It was pretty much one way traffic now as DK fought desperately for damage limitation.

But Lions scored a seventh try after 49 minutes when quick hands and fantastic support play saw blindside flanker Sam Raven waltz through a bereft defence to score.Second row Fraser Tait added try number eight on 51 minutes and Hinton’s conversion made it 54-7. Gareth Bown made a welcome return to action after injury, coming on for a limping Matt Farrington. His kicking out of hand was excellent and he tackled very well in an impressive cameo role.

Further converted tries from scrum half Dan Needham and a hat trick try from Hales took the score to 68-7, before a final surge from DK gave them five minutes of pressure on the Lion’s line where Pete Knight managed to score a consolation try.