DK want bright sparks under the floodlights

DK ended Midlands 1 West leaders Newbold-in-Avon’s unbeaten start to the season with a stunning 31-30 away-day success on Saturday.

And now Shillingford wants to see that display followed up with victory over local rivals Old Halesonians under the Heathbrook floodlights on Friday night.

“To beat the league leaders on their own patch, it must be our best result of the season,” said Shillingford, whose side are now one of three tied at the top of the table on 44 points.

“We have said all season that it’s all about performances. If we put in the performances then the results will sort themselves out.

“And we have been doing that lately. We have generated some momentum and now it’s up to us to carry that on.

“We can’t afford to come off it. We can’t lose focus and step off the gas.

“Old Hales will want to come here on Friday and rain on our parade. But it’s a local derby and under the lights which should help keep everyone focused.”

A dramatic clash at Newbold swung one way then the other with DK trailing 30-19 with 10 minutes to go.

But their character shown through as James Jefferson crossed the white line to cut the gap to six points and then James Fildes touched down with Jordan Brookes holding his nerve to land the conversion before the visitors saw the game out.

“It was a very pleasing result,” said Shillingford. “It was a contrast of two different rugby styles.

“We like to move the ball about where as they have a big set of forwards.

“We knew we had to put a big defensive shift in to match their forwards and then try to impose our game on them.

“We started really well and the first 10 minutes was some of the best rugby I have seen us play in a long time.

“But they came back at us and we needed two scores in the last 10 minutes. Fair play to the lads, they went out and got them.”

Shillingford had a special word praise for front row Fildes who bagged two tries.

“James always misses the start of the season due to cricket commitments but he has done really well since he came back into the side,” said Shillingford.

“Week by week he has got better and better. He has got quality and he is a good thinking player.

“James is one of those players that play clever rugby. It’s really refreshing to have him back.”

We are sitting third on points difference. To be in this position is great and we would have taken that at the start of the season.

There is still a lot of rugby to be played, we aren’t even at the halfway stage yet.

DK’s fine start on Saturday saw Pete Griffiths and Fildes both touchdown with a conversion fronm Brookes seeing them lead 12-3.

A penalty try for the host cut the deficit but DK hit back with Leo Davies crossing and Brookes again adding the extras as they led 19-13 at the break.

Newbold then enjoyed a purple patch and scored three tries to move 30-19 in front.

But DK were not to be denied and the dramatic late scores from Jefferson, Fildes and Brookes clinched a memorable win.