Walsall 28 (Tries: Archer, Thompson, Towe, Fowkes. Con: Wood. Pens: Wood 2.). 

Rugby Lions 35 (Tries: Hawkins 2, Bond, Nash, Wadley. Cons: Bond 2. Pens: Bond 2.). 

Poor Walsall must wonder what they have to do to gain a much needed win. Once again, they produced a terrific comeback and were only two points adrift of the league leaders with still ten minutes remaining. But during these closing stages Walsall squandered two scoring opportunities, while Rugby were clinical with their finishing. The league champions elect were visibly relieved when the final whistle was blown. Walsall’s achievements were even more incredulous, because they had to play the whole of the second half with fourteen players. No 8 Rod Dickson having been shown the red card after a deliberate trip.

The visitors started in confident mood, winger James Hawken finished off a sweeping movement after four minutes with Glen Bond slotting the conversion. But the hosts hit back. Incessant pressure eventually saw winger Tom Archer have the space to stroll over. The visitors had the strong wind in their favour, and soon extended their lead with a Glen Bond penalty. But the Warwickshire team were finding it difficult to cope with the committed approach of the Walsall team. The hosts launched several promising attacks, centre Richard Towe eventually forcing his way over late in the first half. A surprising six minutes of extra time was to prove disastrous for Walsall. During this time the visitors scored two tries. Another for James Hawken, while flanker Alex Walsh went over near the posts. Bond was successful with this conversion. But crucially Walsall’s No 8 Rod Dickson was sent off for his actions during this final attack.

But to their credit the host battled valiantly, and clawed their way back into the game, with tries by lock Steve Fowkes and centre Danny Thompson. The league leaders had to do some desperate defending as the Delves Road team laid siege to the Rugby line. Matt Wood and Glen Bond exchanged penalties as the game entered the final ten minutes. Another indiscretion was punished by Wood to make it 28-30, and it seemed that the upset of the season was about to happen. But No 8 James Wadely took advantage of some weak tackling to crash over and secure the win, much to the relief of the visiting supporters. Bond’s conversion completed the scoring. Although, he and his teammates had to endure another eight minutes of pressure before the final whistle.

Dunstablians 29 (Tries: Bradshaw 3, Ellershaw, Myburgh. Cons: Murphy.). 

Kettering 5 (Try: .). 

Dunstablians put in a solid team performance to claim this must win fixture in testing conditions at Bidwell Park.

The strong, bitter easterly wind tested both sides and Dees’s elected to play with the conditions to their advantage in the first half.

Kettering battled into the wind and with kicking out of defence almost impossible Dunstablians made the best of their terrotorial domination.

Dave Bradshaw, back playing on the wing after several months in the centre, opened the scoring with a scintilating try. Cutting in from the right wing his pace and determination took him past the Kettering defence. Murphy missed the conversion but Dee’s were soon back on the attack.

Bradshaw added his second with another trademark try finishing off a well worked phase of play between forwards and backs. Joe Murphy added the extras and Dee’s were 12-0 ahead.

Dee’s were aware of the need to extend the lead with the second half and the strong headwind approaching and added to their lead. James Ellershaw, playing in the centre in a re worked back line, burst through Kettering three quarters and bulldozed his way over the line. Murphy again added the tricky conversion in testing conditions to extend the lead to 19-0.

Kettering continued to battle bravely against the wind and headed into half time eagerly awaiting the benefits of the conditions.

Dee’s were however the side to thrown down the gauntlet. After soaking up the anticipated territorial pressure they broke into the Kettering half with a powerful 30 yard break from Laurence White. Several off loads allowed Eddie Landsberg to break the line and feed to Steffan Myburgh who cantered over the line for a bonus try against the wind. Swart, taking over the kicking duties from the injured Murphy, narrowly missed the conversion.

The Dunstablians pack continued to retain and recycle possesion in an excellent performance and they provided the platform for Bradshaw to complete his hatrick wide on the right. Swart missed the almost impossible conversion but with a 29-0 lead Dee’s seemed home and dry.

Kettering responded with a consolation try. A well orchestrated driving maul from 20 yards out narrowed the deficit to 24 points but Dee’s claimed the two points and took

one step nearer to Midlands One safety.  

Dudley Kingswinford 23 (Tries: Smart, Langford, Wilkinson. Con: McLellan. Pens: McLellan 2.). 

Luctonians 7 (Try: Helagi. Con: Wheadon.). 

DK gained revenge for their narrow, injury time defeat at Mortimer Park last month with a three tries to one victory over old rivals Luctonians.  The fierce wind blowing down the ground throughout, dictated that this was to be a game of two halves and Lucs 0-7 interval lead with the elements, never looked quite enough.  So it proved as DK scored three second half tries plus two penalties and a conversion to run out worthy winners.  Games against Luctonians are always tough affairs but even when DK were reduced to 13 players near the end, having used up all of their replacements (due to a spate of injuries to backs Tom Weaver, Steve Smart and Gareth Davies plus an earlier tactical change and then having Alan Mitchell sin binned), they never lost their tenacity and the visitors were unable to make their extra numbers count. 

Skipper and second row Ben Connett was absent due to work commitments and wing Ian Gowland is still out with injury but DK welcomed back Eddie Smith at fly half after being out for three months with a back injury and centre Gareth Davies who had been out for several weeks.  Ollie Shakespeare returned to the second row after missing last week’s game against Bedford Ath.  Shaun Griffiths replaced Ben Connett in the second row and had very good game throughout.  Pete Knight led the side well and is really beginning to look the part at openside flanker in Richard Port’s absence, he and No 8 Layton Wilkinson  who had another fine game, making several telling breaks and drives to keep Lucs on the back foot.   Eddie Smith claimed the Coaches Man of the Match award, his distribution was spot on and he lasted the pace remarkably well after being out of the side for so long.  Andy McLellan kicked a couple of important penalties and a conversion and his kicking out of hand was excellent too.  Most of the other backs including the bang in-form Steve Smart ended up being injured, though Pete Stinton Jnr came on when Tom Weaver was injured for his first senior home appearance for DK since April 1998 and showed the young guns how to make a break, his mazy, mesmerising second half run setting up Steve Smart for a superb second try for DK.

Though facing the stiff breeze in the first half DK made a lively enough opening, pinning Lucs back for the first ten minutes or so.  The wind and artic conditions caused problems for both sides and cold fingers saw a rash of early knock ons.  Luctonians gradually adjusted and began to use the elements well.  They scored their try after 22 minutes when a miscued chip near the half way line from DK’s Tom Weaver saw the ball returned with interest back over the head of full back Andy McLellan.  The Luctonians centres were up very quickly and Ricki Helagi was first to the loose ball to touch down over the line.  Fly half Jeremy Wheadon added the extras for Lucs to lead 0-7.  The Herefordshire side had other opportunities to increase their lead, Wheadon missing a 32^nd minute penalty and one particular rolling maul made almost 50m before DK somehow turned it over.  As it was the home side defended extremely well and must have been very happy to turn around at half time only 0-7 down.

                Half Time:  DUDLEY KINGSWINFORD  0   LUCTONIANS  7

Now with the elements in their favour DK attacked immediately, Eddie Smith just failed to hold a sharp pass just 5m out but the DK pack then disrupted the resulting Lucs scrum and quick thinking by John Fallon secured the loose ball for Ian Langford to pick up and drive over for an unconverted try on 49 minutes to make it 5-7.  Andy McLellan’s 53^rd minute penalty then saw DK take an 8-7 lead. 

               DK went further ahead after 55 minutes with tremendous try.  Pete Stinton Jnr picked up a loose ball on the right wing just inside the DK half, sprinting deftly infield he sidestepped and weaved past four defenders with the whole Lucs back line seemingly rooted to the spot, before drawing the cover to give Steve Smart space on the left wing.  Steve Smart doesn’t need a lot of space and his devastating 30m finish saw him touch down wide out for an excellent unconverted try to increase the DK lead to 13-7.  Unfortunately Steve was injured in scoring and had to leave the field.  DK had now used all their replacements and when Gareth Davies was injured on 65 minutes they were down to 14 men.  Despite this they increased their lead to 16-7 after 67 minutes with another Andy McLellan penalty. 

DK are quite used to playing with a man (or even two) down this season and to their credit they still took the game to Luctonians, playing most of the remainder of the game inside the Lucs half and culminating with another try in the 80^th minute.  They set up a catch and drive from a penalty lineout and Layton Wilkinson drove over for DK’s 3^rd try.  Andy McLellan added a fine conversion to make it 23-7.  The drama was not yet over though.  Because of DK’s injuries there was 10 minutes stoppage time added and after 85 minutes DK were reduced to 13 men when Alan Mitchell was yellow carded for stamping.  DK had to defend hard for the last 5 minutes but they had the bit between their teeth and again Lucs were unable to capitalise on their extra numbers.