DUDLEY KINGSWINFORD 37 CHELTENHAM NORTH 6

DUDLEY Kingswinford RFC put an horrendous injury list to one side as they saw off Cheltenham North in convincing style at Heathbrook.

To add to the club’s long list of casualties they lost props Richard Kelley (toe), Stefan Thorpe (shoulder) and John Fallon (unavailable) before kick-off while during the game Ollie Shakespeare (knee) and yet another prop Stuart Bratt (ankle) hobbled off.

The home side found themselves 3-0 down after only four minutes when they were off-side in front of their posts and North full back John Morrison kicked the penalty.

DK’s response was immediate.

Tommy Huggins tapped and ran a penalty in front of North’s posts and it was quickly moved right where great hands from Bratt provided space for Matt Taylor to touch down for a try converted by Gareth Bown after five minutes.

North came back well and another Morrison penalty for offside brought North within a point at 7-6.

The hosts again posted an immediate riposte when an excellent move saw Taylor run in from 30-metres out for his second try of the game after 16 minutes.

DK then enjoyed a long spell of pressure and North did well to keep the home side at bay for the remainder of the half.

The hosts began the second half strongly and skipper Ian Langford, leading by example as usual, scored a superb individual try after 43 minutes.

Receiving the ball 20m out, he simply tore through the North pack, crashing through one tackle after another before touching down near the posts.

Bown converted to give DK a 19-6 lead.

Despite the disruption of injuries to Shakespeare and Bratt, DK continued to press hard and North were forced to concede penalties. Bown made no mistake and was successful with kicks on 76 minutes and 79 minutes.

DK still had time to score to late tries in stoppage time.

A marvellous 50-metre break out of defence from Bown split the North cover defence and took him into to the North 22 where his inch-perfect pass to Ed Parry saw him crash over for a try.

With North resigned to their fate another scintillating 50m break Bown saw him again carve through the North cover to tee up Stefan Shillingford for DK’s fifth try.

Bown converted the final try to see the hosts run-out 37-6.