Winless DK exit cup at first hurdle

10:26am Thursday 22nd November 2007

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BEDFORD ATHLETIC 35, DK 15.

DEMORALISED Dudley Kingswinford will now have only league survival to worry about as they were dumped out of the EDF Intermediate Cup away at Bedford Athletic on Saturday.

If the cup game against Ath was seen as a welcome break from the trials and tribulations of their terrible league campaign the script writer forgot to tell the DK players as they once again missed their cue and forgot their lines as they were comprehensively beaten by an improving Ath side.

DK again made several changes from last week. Al Francis started at tight head and James Herrington in the second row in place of Ian Langford who reverted to his familiar role on the blindside flank. Andy McEwen moved across to No 8. The backs had skipper Ian Gowland on the right wing and Liam Reynolds on the left with Mike Jones partnering Gareth Davies (pictured) in the centre. Dave Hadkiss was at scrum half with Tom Bissell at outside half.

The home side controlled the opening exchanges and went 6-0 ahead through two Clinton Prinsloo penalties.

DK gradually came into the game more and a Bissell penalty after 10 minutes made it 6-3.

Dudley then shocked their hosts with a fine try after 20 minutes. A tremendous burst from McEwen split the Ath cover, his pass to James Lloyd-Jones coming in at pace and at an acute angle saw the full back put in Davies at the posts.

Bissell converted and DK were 10-6 up.

Another Prinsloo made it 10-9 shortly before they took the lead when Ath right wing Joe Hunt scored after good forward pressure. Prinsloo converted and the home side went in 16-10 up at the break.

Ath scored another try early on in the second half when the ball bounced awkwardly for the DK defenders and straight into Prinsloo's hands who touched down and converted the try.

The visitors were up against it and another unforced error midway through the half led to another home try as a wayward DK pass was hacked down field and over the line for Ath winger Hunt to claim his second try.

DK rallied briefly when Layton Wilkinson erupted from a maul to send in James Lloyd Davies for DK's second try but the last word went to thwe hosts left winger Ryan Spencer drove over after a blindside move to make it 35-15.

Dudley return to league action this Saturday when they host Newport (2.15pm kick off).