ANOTHER New Year - but still the same old problems facing Dudley Kingswinford as they resumed their National League Division Two North campaign following the festive break by suffering a severe 60-7 beating at home to Otley.

What makes the result all the more miserable was the fact Otley are no great shakes themselves having lost 10 of their 16 games prior to visiting Heathbrook - writes NICK PULLEN

Would this game provide the DK's with a morale-boosting first win in 17 starts - no, it only compounded the problems that have plagued them all season.

Otley scored an early try when outside centre Jack Mackie was allowed to shrug-off a couple of attempted tackles to score wide out which accurate fly half Mark Ireland converted.

Ireland went onto produce an outstanding exhibition of kicking,

The DK's in constract could only showcase their ability to produce missed tackles as they capitulated after half time.

Otley added a second try on the half hour through scrum half Steve Depledge which  Ireland duly converted and then kicked a penalty on the stroke of half time.

At 20-0 down, the DK's still had a glimmer of gaining something from the game.

That faint optimism was completely blown away with a miserable third quarter display as Otley ran in five tries, almost at will.

Otley scored within a minute of second half action as loose head prop Paul Hill was allowed to waltz over under the posts.

Hill quickly added a second try with wingers  Alex Beaumont and Nazir Karim adding their names to the scoresheet along with second row Jon Stannard.

All the tries arrived on the overlap as Otley carved through the DK's  fragile defence like a knife through hot butter.

The late arrival of second half replacement Pete Knight, the DK's player-coach who tucked into the back row, steadied the ship before he snapped up a try himself seven minutes from time which outside centre Gareth Bown converted.

But the Dk's need a few more 'Pete Knight's' to stand any chance of turning matters around at the moment.

It was only fitting that the excellent Ireland should have the final say. He chased his own kick ahead to snap up an eighth Otley try under the posts, which was promptly converted, giving him a personal points tally of 22.

There's no lack of team  spirit at DK's which remains a lovely, friendly club to visit.

But they need help.