RUGBY UNION - KINGS Norton went down 17-13 at Dunlop in their first fixture of the new Midlands Four West (S) season, the robust Coventry outfit winning thanks to unforced defensive errors, one in each half.

Kings started the brighter with Ken Whitehouse pushing an early penalty just wide.

A powerful forward battle ensued and Jan van der Walt was soon off the field with a blood injury following some clumsy footwork.

Dunlop were then gifted their first score after 13 minutes when the Kings defence missed a simple tackle from a set piece to allow the home side's centre an easy run in under the posts for a converted try.

Whitehouse replied with a penalty but further attempts were narrowly wide of the target leaving the home side with a narrow 7-3 interval lead.

There were a series of changes for the visitors including the departure of Whitehouse with hamstring trouble but there was little change in the game plan with both sets of forwards battling for supremacy.

With 16 minutes of the half gone, a wayward kick out of defence saw the ball gathered in space by the home full-back who set up a counter attack and Dunlop went over for an excellent converted try, taking the score on to 14-3.

Kings exerted constant pressure for the remainder of the game and were finally rewarded when Stephan Gooding crashed over following good work by the Kings pack from a line out. Jamie Clayton converted well.

Kings maintained their efforts to win the game and Clayton was on hand to slot home a long-range penalty with just ten minutes remaing, closing the gap to just one point.

The final minutes were played at a frantic pace but the home side made sure of victory when their sure-footed fly-half cooly slotted over a drop goal in the final seconds.

Kings Norton travel to Coventry Copeswood on Saturday (ko 3pm) for another league encounter.

Meanwhile, Solihull started their Midlands Two West campaign with a 13-13 draw with Burton.