DUDLEY Kingswinford kept their slim chances of promotion alive as they scraped a win at Leamington.

Despite winning enough territory and possession to have won the game twice over, DK were very disjointed, especially in the back division.

Too often slow ball meant the DK halfbacks rarely threatened in attack and Gareth Davies was the only back to regularly break the Leamington line.

Leading 13-20 going into the last quarter DK slumped alarmingly after losing Ian Langford (6) and then Al Francis (1) to injury.

The visitors could count themselves very fortunate that Leamington missed a conversion and a penalty in the last few minutes that would have given them a result.

There were six changes to last week’s side that beat Walsall. Luke Greenwood (2), Robbie Jones (9) and Shaun Griffiths (4) replaced Dan Shakespeare, Tommy Huggins and Ed Parry respectively.

Matt Grove made his full DK debut on the left wing and did well whilst Tom Weaver replaced the unavailable Jordan Brookes.

Up the slope and in good conditions DK began well and soon had the home side backpedalling and conceding penalties, four in the first nine minutes, but had only a successful 9th minute Nick Adams penalty for 0-3 to show for their efforts.

With DK piling on the pressure, Andy McEwen made a fine early break and a try looked a certainty had he unloaded the ball to the support.

As it was DK found themselves 7-3 down after 18 minutes when Leamington scored in virtually their first attack.

Leamington’s blindside flanker Lewis Carroll was then sinbinned on 22 minutes for pulling down a DK maul close to the line DK kept up their offensive and were rewarded after 26 minutes when, after opting for a penalty scrum 10 metres out, No 8 Andy McEwen drove powerfully for the line to score DK’s first try.

Nick Adams converted to make it 7-10.

Robertson kicked a long penalty after 29 minutes to level the scores at 10-10 before Leamington second row Simon Harry was incredibly only given a yellow card after head butting DK’s Stefan Thorp on 36 minutes.

Under intense pressure Leamington’s discipline again deserted them a minute later, when loose head prop Dan Phillips was yellow carded for persistent offside.

DK began the second half strongly and scored a good try after 42 minutes.

Quick passing from a maul from Al Francis to Gareth Bown saw the fly half send Nick Adams off down his left wing.

He beat his man before passing inside for hooker Luke Greenwood following up to score close in.

Nick Adams added the conversion to make it 17-10 in DK’s favour. Under more pressure Leamington again transgressed and Nick Adams nailed the 46th minute penalty to take DK two scores clear at 20-10.

Leamington perked up and John Robertson kicked them three points closer making it 13-20 after 57 minutes.

DK talisman Ian Langford had already retired with a dead leg followed by Al Francis (knee) after 66 minutes.

Despite this DK should really have settled the game after 68 minutes when after shredding the home cover, a poor pass resulted in a fumble right on the home line.

With the disruption to the DK pack beginning to be felt replacement prop Terry Curran went over for a try following a catch and drive from a five metre lineout to make it 18-20.

But John Roberts hit the post with the conversion attempt and in a dramatic finale missed a 79th minute penalty to win it.