The speed of thought and handling of the Saxons backline was a joy to behold, with Ben Barkley mixing his game up impressively to win the Dudley Tool & Press Saxons man of the match nomination from the DK coaching staff. DK fought all the way though, recording tries through impressive scrum half Jordan Brookes & 2nd row Matt Perks. The margin could have been wider but for the number of tackle area turnovers secured by the Dudley back row, giving the Saxons coaching staff plenty to work on in training.

DK kicked off attacking the Swindon Road end, exerting pressure when the Saxons conceded a penalty in the tackle area. They kicked for the corner but were turned over allowing the Saxons to run the ball back at them at speed through several phases. Scrum half Pete White spotted an undefended narrow side at a ruck, burst through and chipped the DK fullback before winning the footrace to ground the ball in the left corner, 2min 0-5 as Jamie Hearn’s conversion flew wide.

DK’s outside half Gareth Bown struck back with a drop goal, but the Saxons responded by running a penalty awarded deep in DK 22 as the stretched defence strayed offside. The ball was worked right when Barkley ran in the try, Hearn converting. 10min 3-12.

Flanker Eji Uzoigwe stole a DK lineout throw, enabling no.8 Ciaran Moore to drive forward before the ball was moved left where Barkley’s power saw him break a tackle and feed centre partner Stef Shillingford who ran in an unconverted try. 12min 3-17.

Bressington broke down the stand side but was just hauled down short by the dogged DK defence. The ball was recycled quickly left though where fellow winger Hearn crashed over in the corner but was unable to convert. 18min 3-22. The Saxons tight 5 were obviously starting to feel left out, next up tighthead Mark George broke through the first up tackles and managed to pass off the floor to outside half Gary Dipple who steamed up in support to score a try that Hearn was able to convert. 20min 3-24.

DK hit back with a fine solo effort by Brookes, sniping through the fringe cover and executing a fine sidestep to evade Matt Farrington’s tackle. Bown converted, 25min 10-24. But a DK clearance kick was then charged down by old boy Shillingford who gathered a kind bounce to stroll over unopposed for his 2nd try. DK’s defences held out for the remaining minutes of the half, making the halftime score 10-36.

The first 10min of the 2nd half were also scoreless, the Saxons coaching staff then opting to bring on front row replacements Adam Sturdy & Jordan Page to restore some impetus. They were rewarded by several phases of continuity in attack after which White’s long pass to the right found Uzoigwe in space, he drew the defender to set captain Robbie Hurrell off on a long range gallop to score in the right corner, Hearn converting. 52min 10-43.

The Saxons had the bit between their teeth and ran the restart straight back at DK, the ball worked left where Barkley broke the defensive line to feed Farrington who entered the line at pace to score, Hearn again converting, 54min 10-50.

A 5m scrum near the DK line produced Bressington’s club record try when he took a pass from White and just managed to reach out to ground the ball on the line despite the attention of the defender. Hearn converted, 63min 10-57.

A DK infield clearance kick was secured by White who launched an attack to the right then recycled it left deep in the DK 22 where Page straightened the line to score near the posts, Hearn converting. 68min 10-64. DK never gave up though and hit back with a late try from a drive by Perks, Bown converting. The final whistle was imminent but there was just time for Uzoigwe to secure an excellent tackle & turnover which was worked right through Shillingford’s hands to replacement Dan Thompson who scored the final try to mark his debut. Hearn converted to make the final score 17-71.

Coach Mike Umaga commented : “Job done, we take the win & 5 points and move on to Bees at home next week. Credit to DK they showed a lot of fight, we were maybe a bit too eager at times and errors crept in to our game, the boys have acknowledged that and we will be working on being a bit smarter in possession in future”.