DUDLEY Kingswinford are under no illusions of the task ahead of them this season after they warmed up for their opening Natioanl League Division Two North contest with a 20-5 defeat at home to Huddersfield.

This season, the DK’s have chosen to blood some of their younger players and are realistic about what lies ahead.

Coach Shaun Perry claimed: “Obviously we’re disappointed with the loss to Huddersfield, but the boys that came in did well and the signs are encouraging.

“Yes, we had two 17 year olds in the side and we went down to 13 players at one stage - but this is the squad we’ve got and the squad we’re sticking with. It’s all about bringing the youngsters on”.

Huddersfield took the lead within two minutes from a well worked line-out move which saw hooker Ben Morrell burst through to score.

DK’s hit back to level when Richard Kelley forced his way over for an unconverte4d try.

But both Kelley and James Jefferson were yellow carded just before the half hour mark, but 13 men DK’s held out with the scores still level at 5-5 by half time.

Huddersfield nudged ahead on resumption with a Tom Hodson penalty.

Another Huddersfield try was improved upon by Hodson to put the Yorkshire side 15-5 ahead.

And it was Morrell who completed the scoring with his second try following a clever tap and run move.

DK’s start their National League campaign on Saturday with a trip to Leicester Lions (2pm).