Dudley are left on brink of the drop

DUDLEY Kingswinford’s survival chances took a big blow with a heavy home defeat to Old Redcliffians.

The home side started well and took an early 7-0 lead when Mark Harrison crossed for a try which Theodore Mannion converted.

However, Old Redcliffians soon hit back with a try from Jonathan Cook that was converted by Ashley Groves.

Two quick unconverted tries from Ethan Doyle and Daniel Fry put the visitors ten points ahead, and Alex Harvey crossed just before half-time for the bonus-point try.

Old Redcliffians picked up where they left off in the second-half and Thomas Hughes crossed for a try which was converted by Groves.

Kieran Kelly then crossed for another Old Redcliffians try, which unconverted, before Samuel Rees scored to take his side’s tally up to 41. The visitors made it 48 unanswered points when Aaron Tull scored with six minutes left, his try converted by Groves.

However, the home side didn’t give up, and had the final say when back-row Jasper Smith crossed, converted by Rhys Harper, but Dudley know they’ve got a mountain to climb if they are to avoid relegation.

TEAMS

DUDLEY: Smithemen, Bennett, Morgan, Shillingford, Harrison, Mannion, Morgan; Williams, Ryan, Thompson, Smith, Bull, Smith, Hancox, Nicholls.

Replacements: Harper, Jowett, Lovell, Rowley, Fildes.

OLD REDCLIFFIANS: Murphy, Hughes, Cook, Kelly, Murphy, Groves, Luxford; Harvey, Ford, O’Donnell, Stratton, Doyle, Fry, Tull, Thurston.

Replacements: Pike, Brabham, Curry, Butler, Rees.

REFEREE: Nathan Howarth

ATTENDANCE: 550 Star man

Frederick Morgan (Dudley)