DIRECTOR of rugby Neil Shillingford says his preparations for Dudley Kingswinford's new season are well on track.

DK completed their pre-season programme with a 31-12 defeat away at Bromsgrove last Friday.

The performance pleased Shillingford who thinks his team is on course for the campaign curtain-raiser when they will welcome Stoke to Heathbrook on September 5.

He said: "The overall picture is very pleasing.

"Our two pre-season games against Droitwich and Bromsgrove have seen us dominate a team that will be strong in the league below and then compete really well against a side that will be challenging in the division above.

"The Bromsgrove game did highlight a few areas that we will need to work on, but that is the reason you play these games.

"I want to look at our defensive patterns more closely in the next few weeks, which is something we haven't really focused on as yet.

"I thought we competed well upfront, the scrummage was good.

"The work ethic was there again and the attitude was great. We are on course and will be ready for the new season."

Against Bromsgrove, the game was played over three periods, the first two of 30 minutes and the final one of 20.

The first period of play was a tight affair with both defences stretched on occasion. However, it was looking like a scoreless opening period until DK took the lead through Luke Greenwood. He touched down after a good driving maul from a lineout that had taken place after a penalty kick had been expertly put into the corner.

This stirred Bromsgrove into action and they hit back quickly with two tries before the first break.

The second period was also won by the Boars, with three tries being scored. Firstly, DK were looking to run the ball from their own 22 when a regulation pass went down and Bromsgrove pounced. They added another when their scrum half took advantage of an unguarded short side following a driving maul after a lineout.

Nic Adams replied for DK when a Bromsgrove scrummage was put under pressure on their 22, and the DK back row forced the Bromsgrove number eight to spill the ball. Adams pounced and sped to the line. Duncan Tompkins slotted yet another touchline kick to leave DK trailing 24-12 after the second period.

The final period was one which saw Bromsgrove gain field position, though they were having trouble breaching a stubborn DK defence, but pressure finally told when a penalty was kicked into the corner. Bromsgrove then sent the quick ball wide, and with a well worked backs move scoring out wide.