Having watched his team turn in their best performance of the season, Mark Wilson has insisted that Dudley Kingswinford are still underdogs in the race for promotion from Midlands One.

DK scored seven tries in the 44-13 hammering of Kettering and stand just two wins behind front-runners Rugby Lions and Bedford Athletic with a game in hand, but their director of rugby believes that the division's top two remain the teams to beat to earn a return to National League rugby.

"Our win over Kettering was emphatic, but we haven't really played the big boys yet," said Wilson. "Going into our games with Rugby and Bedford, we will definitely be underdogs but that is not necessarily a bad thing. That is how Dudley Kingswinford got promotion last time - coming from behind when no-one expected us to," he said, referring to their Level Five title in 2000.

DK didn't have it all their own way at Waverley Road and endured a troublesome opening 15 minutes in which two penalties from Tim Jones cancelled a try from Alan Mitchell.

But soon afterwards the visitors, who played without top-scorer Tui Asipito, accelerated away with further touchdowns from Gareth Davies and Chris Condilffey and braces from Steve Smart and Simon Fletcher.

Wilson's counterpart at Bromsgrove, Dean Ball, was optimistic about his team's prospects despite the fact that they lost 19-17 at Luctonians.

The Boars, who lie bottom of the league without a win, have taken some heavy beatings this season and, with that in mind, Ball was pleased with their showing.

"We are going in the right direction," he said. "It was a vast improvement. Although it was not a great game and neither of us are great teams, we showed a lot of spirit and fight and maybe had the chances to sneak a win."

Bromsgrove had led 12-0 through tries from centre Ally Hall and wing Frankie Hale, while Craig Walker kicked the rest of their points, but could not hold on as their lineout began to misfire and they conceded a long-range driving-maul try.

Ball hopes to maintain the upturn in team morale with a canoeing weekend next week, since Midlands One fixtures give way to cup matches.

Walsall's trials and tribulations continued with a 52-7 reverse at Luton, while leaders Rugby Lions retained their 100 per cent record with a 35-13 victory at home to Dunstablians.

Kenilworth lost for the first time in Midlands Two West after being shut out 29-0 at Hinckley while Broadstreet, who have yet to concede a point, remained unbeaten, thrashing Malvern 40-0.