DIRECTOR of rugby Neil Shillingford admits there is room for improvement at Dudley Kingswinford after a sluggish start to the season.

DK have still been chalking up the points but it's the level of performance that is frustrating the Heathbrook coach.

They picked up another victory last Saturday with a 24-17 success at Worcester, meaning their only defeat in their first five games has come at the hands of early pacesetters Bromsgrove.

However, Shillingford is still calling for improvement as his players look to build on last season's second-placed finish in Midlands One West.

He said: "It was a case of job done while not playing well again.

"We have struggled at times this season and that could be a mix of both the league being tougher and the fact we haven't really fired yet.

"We know Worcester is a tough place to go and you have to get on top of the forwards but we are letting teams get a foothold.

"Realistically, our senior players have not hit top form yet and some of the guys coming in are not filling that gap.

"It's just a case of keeping working at it. For all the right reasons, myself and the coaching staff are maybe being a little overly critical. It's just that we needed to step up from last year but we haven't quite done that.

"I'd like to think that we'll get back to our best soon even though it doesn't feel like it at the moment.

"We are still suffering from availability issues and it's been a constant battle to get a settled side some weeks.

"It's now about finding that continuity on selection and appearances and performance.

"We're not quite where we expected to be but we are still winning games and that is a good sign. Soon someone will take a hell of a beating when we finally get it right."

DK will now go to Hereford this Saturday as they look to finally hit top gear.