JUST why Dudley are strolling away to the Midlands 1 West league title was vividly underlined in this comprehensive demolition of a game but limited Old Eds side. The Black Country aristocrats have now won 11 times in 11 outings and it is hard to believe that they will not have an unblemished record by next April. Such was their domination that by half-time they had stormed to a 50-0 lead and spectators and players alike must have wondered if they would march on to a humiliating 100-0 drubbing. That Eds should limit Dudley’s second-half scoring to another 28 points and manage a converted try of their own reflects their fighting spirit against a side superior in all areas of the field. Team manager John Burdett said: “We stuck at it well against a quality side. It was a test of character.” Eds’ afternoon at Dudley’s ground began to go wrong as early as the second minute. An overlap on the left wing allowed the home side room to go over and the conversion saw them 7-0 up. Eds needed to employ two men in the tackle to halt devastating Dudley but on eight minutes they were 12-0 down after an unconverted try. Eds were being pushed around by the big home forwards and on 15 minutes were 19-0 down after another charge through the middle for a converted try. Two minutes later it was 26-0 with another improved crossing and the tannoy announcer’s gleeful tones were beginning to rankle with the small band of Eds supporters. Eds were forced to make changes after 20 minutes when scrum-half Tim Whitehouse injured a knee. Versatile winger Ashley Kalnins took over and Liam Galloway joined the threequarters. A succession of tries, some converted, some not, saw Dudley ease to their first-half half-century - but not before Eds centre Jody Peacock was laid low in a spear tackle which the referee either missed or took to be legitimate. Dudley met sterner resistance in the second half and after they went to 57-0 had to put themselves about defensively when Eds winger Carl Hutchings was felled just short of the line. Seventeen minutes into the half, Dudley were down to 14 men after a loose infringement. A minute later the contest was all-square in the number of players when Eds forward Sam Garnham saved a try and earned a yellow card with an all-embracing tackle on the home left winger which the referee deemed too high. The winger lay theatrically prone, as if to reinforce the offence. It was surprising how quickly he recovered and was able to resume with no apparent ill-effects. Dudley were by no means calling the shots as they had done in the first half and although they scored converted tries in the 24th and 35th minutes, Eds gained some consolation from a chastening afternoon when centre Dane Calcunovitch, back from a bad facial injury, went over for a try and Kalnins improved it to make the score 71-7. There was time for Dudley to complete the scoring with another converted try and round off at 78-7. On Saturday, Eds are home to bottom club Leamington, still without a win and showing just one point from their 11 outings. Eds, two places above them at 12th in the table, know a victory is imperative. | 
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