DUDLEY Kingswinford completed their league program with a hard fought victory over a resurgent Camp Hill.

The visitors won the game mainly due to their dominance in the tight scrums where the front row of Al Francis, Dan Shakespeare and Stefan Thorp finally ground down their tenacious opponents with another top drawer performance.

In all other aspects Camps were extremely competitive. They were equal to DK in the loose and their backs were generally more positive.

So, DK have again finished as the league’s bridesmaids in third place but it is worth considering DK have had hardly any financial outlay in the past two seasons and that week in, week out the team is regularly made up of 90 per cent DK club lads.

They have also been the top point’s scores in Midlands 1 West this season with 912 points which includes an incredible 129 tries (5.37 a game).

There were five outright changes and another five positional. Stu Walton was at full back, Gareth Davies back in the centre, Dan Shakespeare at hooker, Stefan Thorp at tight head and Andy McEwen at No 8. Positionally, Jordan Brookes moved back to scrum half, Jamie Ramsey was at blindside flanker, Mitch Grealy in the centre with James Jefferson and Nick Adams on the wing.

Both sides showed early ambition but it was DK that took the lead in the very first minute.

A good break from Jamie Ramsey carried on by Gareth Davies saw a ruck set up and quick hands sent Al Francis over out wide for DK to lead 0-5.

DK scored again on eight minutes. James Jefferson made a fine 40 metre break, kicked ahead and caught his own kick to move the ball quickly through Stu Walton and Jordan Brookes for the ubiquitous Ed Parry to cross the line.

Nick Adams conversion made it 12-0.

Though conceding the two early tries Camps were competing ferociously for every ball and on 12 minutes an over ambitious miss move pass from Gareth Davies saw Camps right winger Sam Yarwood intercept the pass to sprint 50m to the posts.

The game was being played at a frantic pace, with DK always looking to increase their lead and they did so on 21 minutes when a fine break from Gareth Davies lead to scrum half Jordan Brookes darting over to make it 17-7 at half-time.

DK pressed strongly at the onset of the second half but slipshod handling and passing killed a couple of promising moves and their profligacy cost them dear after 63 minutes.

DK had demolished the Camps scrum for the umpteenth time but the home side managed to get the ball away and a straightforward three-quarter move out to Rob Obeng-Manu saw the Camps left winger plough through three tackles to score and make it 12-17.

The visitors needed a quick response and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts on 67 minutes. Instead of kicking it to put themselves two full scores ahead, they went for the lineout catch and drive and though Stefan Thorp got over the line, the ball was dropped and it seemed DK might have made another costly error.

However, two minutes later Andy McEwen drove over direct from a scrum inside the Camps 22 and Nick Adams converted to give DK breathing space and make it 24-12.

Camps were not about to lie down and scored a good try to make it 24-17 after 72 minutes through Obeng-Manu. But two minutes later Andy McEwen scored a carbon copy of his first try, driving over direct from a five metre scrum. Nick Adams added the extras to make it 31-17. D DK made the game safe after 78 minutes as Jordan Brookes went over.

Sam Yarowood added a late consolation for Camps as he ran the length of the field to score in stoppage time.