Promotion the aim for Dudley Kingswinford next year after strong finish to season

After going behind within four minutes, DK showed their promotion credentials with a 34-14 comeback victory to take the spoils in their last game of the season.

The bonus point win moved the side back up the Midlands One West table – securing the Swindon Road outfit their aim of a fourth place league finish.

Nick Adams flies in to score for DK. Photo: Ian Jackson

Director of rugby Neil Shillingford praised his players, saying Saturday’s result was a “very positive” end to the club’s season.

He said: “As soon as promotion was out of the question we aimed for that fourth place. We are delighted that our players put in a great performance so we picked up the bonus point and did what we had to do – plus a couple of results went our way which always helps.

“The game on Saturday showed how far we have improved as a team as Sutton were another side who came to disrupt us from playing.

“A number of teams are coming here with the sole intention of stopping us from playing, but we managed the game well and came through it. We took our chances and the whole squad put in a good performance.

“It was a strong end to the season, an improvement on last year – which is exactly what we wanted – and it leaves us in good stead going forwards to next season.”

Shillingford said that although the team will be aiming for promotion next season, he admitted his squad would need strengthening in the off-season.

Adding: “Next year we are definitely going to be aiming for promotion.

“We know we will need to strengthen the squad, but we’ve already got some very good players and a good coaching team in place.

“We have also got some good young players coming through, so if we can bring everything together then I think we will have a good chance for promotion.

“I’m always looking ahead to next year. I’ve got meetings with the chairman this week where we’ll discuss our plans for next season, but after the season we’ve had, I need a few weeks off.”