NEIL Shillingford praised the character of his Dudley Kingswinford players following their victory over Worcester Wanderers.

DK have bounced back well from promotion disappointment by bagging back-to-back wins. Their latest came with a 22-7 success last Saturday.

The Heathbrook outfit had seen their hopes of a top-two finish evaporate following loses to Bournville and Burton last month but answered the set-back with wins over Crewe and Nantwich and Worcester.

Shillingford said: "We have reacted in the right way.

"Promotion and the play-offs are well out of sight now but we have just taken each game as it comes and done really well since.

"We are a confident side at the moment and really showing our strength now."

The director of rugby also said the victory against Worcester was another example of how far his players have developed this campaign.

He added: "Worcester have been a bogey side for us in the past but this was a step forward from where we have come.

"They are a side that try to disrupt what you are doing and work set-piece to set-piece.

"But we are a side that will go toe-to-toe with that when needed but without getting too dragged into it, which would have happened before.

"When teams try to slow down the tempo we have learned to up it. That comes down to good game management and a confidence in our own ability to be able to do that.

"Credit also has to go to our front five. We have struggled against their scrum before but the players have put a massive shift in and given us that platform to go on and win the game."

DK now face another home game this Saturday when Hereford visit Heathbrook (2.15pm kick-off).

"Again we will be taking each game at a time and focus on the challenge that brings," added Shillingford.

"Hereford are another side that we have struggled to get a result against in the past so that is our challenge this week."