DUDLEY Kingswinford’s players have the character to come storming back from last Saturday’s defeat against Bournville when they host leaders Bridgnorth this weekend, says Neil Shillingford.

The director of rugby insists there were plenty of positives to take from the 28-17 defeat and backed his side to show their fight when the Midlands One West table-toppers arrive at Heathbrook.

He said: “It was disappointing to lose and for our good winning run to come to an end, but we know what we need to do to put it right.

“We aren’t a million miles away from where we need to be and the players can see that. They were obviously disappointed at the end but they know how far we have come. Last year they could have lost that sort of a game by 60 points but instead it now highlighted this team’s resilience.

“We need to just manage the game better at times and control areas of the pitch a little more. That is the next step we need to make.

“The players now have a chance to put what they learned from the Bournville game straight into action this Saturday because I think it will be a similar sort of game.

“They will be up for the game and won’t dwell on the defeat. We can use it to get better.”

DK travelled to Bournville knowing the clash would be a good yardstick to measure their progress. Both clubs were relegated last term and are now in the top echelons of the league, pressing for a return to the division above.

The game started with DK pressing in the opening five minutes. This led to a long-range penalty that Duncan Tompkins pulled just to the left of the posts.

This was compounded when Shef Shillingford took a line close to a ruck and powered over the line. The large travelling DK crowd were soon deflated when the try was disallowed, yet DK were given a five-metre scrum.

The referee deemed that he had prevented a tackle being made, but those five points would have given DK a losing bonus point and perhaps changed the whole game.

The Bournville 10 then doubled the disappointment by making a break and then skilfully kicking the ball into the in-goal area, which was reached first by the Bournville attacker to hand the hosts the lead.

A penalty and a late score saw Bournille take a 13-0 lead into the break. DK went in without troubling the scoreboard in the first half despite their quick start to the clash.

The second half saw a spirited fight back from the visitors.

A try from a driving maul and a TJ Gordon score, both converted by Duncan Tompkins, had them ahead for the first time. Another three points from Tompkins soon after extended DK’s lead to 17-13.

However, momentum was to swing in favour of the hosts as the clash drew to a close.

A penalty cut the deficit before Bournville clinically produce two chances in the last ten minutes to make sure they came out on top and denied DK a losing bonus point.

“We had the opportunities to win it,” added Shillingford. “We started really well but failed to get the points on the board. We missed a couple of penalties and had a try disallowed.

“We couldn’t get a foothold in the game early and that make it difficult.”

Shillingford said they will assess a few injuries ahead of the weekend but confirmed the loss of Danny Hawkins for the rest of the season after he broke his arm on Saturday.