DUDLEY Kingswinford ground out their seventh consecutive win to maintain their position as league leaders but it was probably their toughest game of the season so far. Camps young side were pumped up in front of a large Vice President’s day crowd and proved formidable opposition.

The fabulous pre match hospitality ended abruptly at kick off time as the home side tore into DK, though ultimately the DK pack proved too strong for Camps on the day and the visitors ran out deserved winners.

There were two changes from the DK side that beat Banbury last week. Jamie Ramsey replaced Tui Asi Pito in the back row and Ollie Shakespeare came in for Ed Parry in the second row.

Camps were straight onto the offensive from the kick off, full back Ian Briggs narrowly missed a 3rd minute penalty. But he atoned with another on six minutes to put the home side 3-0 up.

In between DK had to scramble to smother an interception after a loose pass.

The visitors then settled down and began to get ascendency in the tight. They rocked Camps with a couple of big scrums and soon had the home side giving away penalties under pressure.

Gareth Bown missed a straightforward kick on 10 minutes but then levelled the scores at 3-3 after 15 minutes.

The DK pressure continued and Ian Langford got over the Camps line on 20 minutes but was adjudged held up.

DK went 6-3 ahead with another Gareth Bown penalty after 26 minutes but Camps’ enthusiasm was undimmed and Ian Briggs levelled for them after 31 minutes to make it 6-6.

Despite having the lion’s share of the ball the visitors had to be satisfied with a 9-6 interval lead, courtesy of a 33rd minute Bown penalty.

DK began the second half in determined mood but again lost a good early opportunity when their lineout ball was overthrown deep in the Camps 22.

Simon Bown then missed a 45th minute penalty but DK did finally score a try after 47 minutes. A huge forward drive down the left hand touchline led by Al Francis saw the same player crash over in the corner for the try.

Jon Higgins had taken over goal kicking duties and slotted a fine conversion from the touchline for DK to increase their lead to 14-6.

This proved to be the start of a purple patch for the visitors as they added a second try four minutes later on 51 minutes. A penalty catch and drive in the Camps 22 saw Ollie Shakespeare driven over wide out for the score. Higgins converted and DK had a 15 point cushion at 21-6.

The visitors had to shuffle their front row with the departure of Al Francis and having also lost Stefan Shillingford to a dead leg, they also lost a little of their fizz.

Despite conceding two quick tries Camps were far from beaten and redoubled their efforts.

Unfortunately for the home side they were giving away far too many penalties, much to the annoyance of some of the home crowd.

With the game slipping away from them Camps did manage a fine passage of play in the last minute when the ball was passed through several pairs of hands at pace and with no little skill for centre Simon Edwards to touch down a consolation try, converted by Briggs for a final score of 13-21.