NEIL Shillingford has praised the balance of his Dudley Kingswinford side after victory over Moseley Oak lifted them into second place in Midlands One West.

DK secured a 35-15 bonus-point win against 14-man Moseley at Heathbrook last Saturday to further enhance their promotion credentials.

They leapfrogged Bromsgrove, who slipped up at Stourbridge Lions, and cut the gap to leaders Burton after they failed to take a bonus point from their clash with in-form Stoke.

DK ran in three tries during a dominant first half that also saw Moseley's Dovi Soqosoqo see red for a poor challenge on lively winger Luke Trevis.

The hosts struggled to find their rhythm until late in the second half but eventually did enough to wrap up another solid success.

Shillingford said: "It was a really important win for us, especially considering the other results that went our way.

"We were far from our polished best and perhaps kicked back to them too often in that second half. Once they got to within a score, we still went on to get that bonus point again, which we have highlighted as our big aim.

"We have set our stall out to pick up the bonus points and that has been working well for us.

"We had the chance to kick the points again but chose to go for the corner, show that ambition, and it worked out well for us.

"The pleasing thing is that we have a really good balance at the moment. We now have really good pace out wide, the forwards are carrying and linking play well and we also have that pace and threat through the centre too. Things are going well throughout the team."

Shillingford was keen to praise young winger Trevis.

His afternoon was cut short after Soqosoqo's challenge left him unconscious but he may be able return for this Saturday's key clash with fifth-placed Rugby Lions at Heathbrook (2.15pm kick-off).

The coach said: "He's done really well for us despite only being 17. He's a true finisher and it's great to have that threat out wide.

"I don't think there was much malice in the challenge because I know the player involved and he's not like that. He did come in with the swinging arm though so the referee had no choice.

"Luke was okay afterwards and will be assessed properly by the medical team this week."

The Rugby contest will be followed with a trip to Stoke a week later as DK enter a key spell in their quest to overhaul pacesetter Burton.

"Rugby's form seems to have dropped a little recently but it's going to be another tough test," added Shillingford. "We then have Stoke after that so the next two weeks leading up to the end of the first rotation of games is going to be really important.

"Our aim is to go unbeaten heading up to Christmas and see where we are.

"We are in a good position at the moment but we're only going to be worrying about ourselves and the things we can control."

Centre Stef Shillingford also has a chance to featuring this weekend after missing the Moseley clash with a knee injury picked up against Old Halesonians.