DUDLEY Kingswinford emerged from their three week layoff to record a seven tries to two victory at Stratford.

It was DK’s 12th win on the trot though they were understandably a little rusty and many opportunities were missed.

While DK have been kicking their heels for three weeks they were still short of a couple of their most influential players for this game.

Inspirational club captain Ben Connet had work commitments and the DK back row talisman Ian Langford was rested for a further week after an ankle injury. Shaun Griffiths and Tui Asi Pito replaced them.

The only other changes saw Al Francis return to the front row in place of Rich Kelley and Tom Weaver replacing Mike Jones in the centre.

DK looked ominous from the start but rustiness saw them lose possession twice when close to the home line and they had a lucky escape on 13 minutes, when Stef Shillingford’s defensive kick was charged down, with the ball rebounding over the DK goal line. Luckily the Stratford prop following up had not got the pace to reach it. Stratford full back Mike Plant missed a straightforward penalty attempt after 15 minutes and DK made them pay when a Stratford defensive kick was charged down in the home 22 and quickly spun left to Matt Farrington who scored in the corner.

The visitors piled on the pressure and when Stratford’s kingpin, lock Flo Vialan was yellow carded for pulling down a maul on 24 minutes something had to give.

It came in the shape of a fabulous 25th minute try from Shillingford who, taking the ball close to the scrum, accelerated with such power and pace from virtually a standing start, to hurtle over from 30m out with the Stratford defence only able to watch and wonder.

It was a truly stunning try, converted by Gareth Bown for DK to increase their lead to 12-0.

DK then conceded a bizarre try after 31 minutes. They had been penalised for engaging early in the scrum and Stratford tapped and ran the penalty.

A kick ahead rebounded off the back of someone’s boot and bounced kindly over the DK line for Stratford flanker Dave Pritchard to touch down.

Undeterred, DK replied almost immediately with their third try after 35 minutes. They spurned a kick at goal in favour of a penalty kick to the corner and from the lineout Al Francis was driven over.

DK’s Jon Higgins got a rather harsh yellow card in injury time trying vigorously to dig the ball out of a ruck with a blatant Stratford hand preventing its release.

Against DK’s 14 men Stratford looked to have scored after 42 minutes but the referee to his credit brought play back as he himself had accidentally blocked a DK tackler. Stratford were putting up a good fight but it was DK that went further ahead with another fine try after 50 minutes.

A super breakthrough the middle from Simon Fletcher gave Shillingford room on the outside and there was no stopping him from 10 metres out.

Bown converted and DK had their four try bonus point in the bag at 24-5.

For the next 20 minutes or so DK then played some of their best rugby of the game, constantly tearing through the Stratford cover with sweeping attacks involving both backs and forwards.

Unfortunately the contrived to lose the ball or get penalised on several occasions when it looked easier to score.

Stratford’s most profitable tactic, indeed seemingly their only one, pick and drive, proved more effective and in a rare attack against the run of play after 68 minutes they did just that when close to the DK line, with flanker Chris Cathcart going over for their second try converted by Mike Plant to make it 24-12.

This unlikely score saw DK regain their focus and become a mean machine again as they hit the home side with three tries in the last six minutes.

On 74 minutes a straightforward three-quarter move out to Matt Farrington saw the winger hack on to the line where a Stratford defender fumbled the ball for Matt to touch down. Bown converted for 31-12.

On 79 minutes a good break from Tui Asi Pito and some fancy footwork from Bown made the gap for replacement lock Ed Parry to thunder in. Finally, with Stratford out for the count, No 8 Jamie Ramsey was driven over from a penalty catch and drive lineout for a try to make the final score a more realistic 43-12.