DUDLEY Kingswinford RFC are just one game from recording the perfect league season following a hard-fought win.

Victory over Worcester at Heathbrook next Saturday would see DK make it 26 wins from 26 games.

DK made six changes from last week’s cup win at Halesonians with the front five almost totally replaced. Props Al Francis and Stefan Thorp returned from injury and Dan Shakespeare moved back to hooker.

Second rows Shaun Griffiths and Ben Connett were also back from injury. Matt Farrington replaced Jak Davis on the left wing and Stefan Shillingford was back in the centre after injury.

This was a tough encounter and DK needed great resolve, especially early on against a much focused home side.

All the early pressure came from DK and after 4 minutes a quick ruck near the posts was moved out to Gareth Bown who stepped the cover to score and then convert the try.

OL’s responded with a series of attacks prompted by their talented halfbacks and were rewarded after 11 minutes when a missed tackle in midfield allowed centre Danny Murch to break through and score. The try was converted by flanker Steve Pike to bring the scores level at 7-7.

OL’s were very much in the game at this stage and though their pack struggled a little in the tight, they undoubtedly moved DK well outside of their comfort zone with their skilful and varied attacks.

Then, right out of the blue, the visitors hit a purple patch in which they scored a staggering five unanswered tries in the 15 minutes before half time.

First up after 25 minutes was a goal from Matt Farrington, who scored an unconverted try in the corner.

From the OL’s kick off Ben Connett fielded a difficult ball to set up an attack through Jefferson, who sent Stefan Shillingford clear and the powerful centre strode 35m unchallenged to the posts.

Then from the next kick off Jon Tideswell picked up a fumbled OL tap down inside the DK 22 and embarked on an amazing 70 metre break, eluding at least eight or none attempted tackles to score a remarkable individual try.

This made it 24-7 before on 31 minutes DK scored a fifth try when, after excellent forward play had set Shillingford free, the centre sent in Jefferson.

It was bewildering stuff, not least for the overworked OL’s defence, as DK scored a sixth try in stoppage time.

DK set up a rolling maul in their own half and drove it upfield for fully 50 metres before Stefan Thorp battered his way over the line at his third attempt. Bown converted for DK to lead 36-7 at the break.

Laurentians hit back through Danny Murch early in the second half but DK roared back to muster try number seven after 56 minutes.

After Pete Knight had stolen yet another OL’s ball to set up a strong forward attack from which the ball was swept out to Simon Fletcher and his inside pass finding DK’s athletic hooker Luke Greenwood up in support to go over at the posts. Bown converted to make it 43-14.

Bown was then shown a yellow card after 67 minutes for rather unwisely handbagging Stuart Eborall. The home side’s scrum half Richard Parker suffered the same fate after 75 minutes for walking over the back of the DK pack.

With order firmly restored, DK again attacked the home line strongly and from a ruck close to the line the ball was spun out to Shillingford who shrugged off a couple of tackles to score his second and DK’s eighth try of the game in the 80th minute. Bown converted for a final score of 50-14.