JON Higgins has leapt to the defence of his Dudley Kingswinford players after they collapsed to defeat at Birmingham and Solihull.

The Heathbrook side looked on course to record a maiden away win in National Two North when they led 22-10 at the break against a Bees side reduced to 14 men after Rob Connolly’s red card.

But missed chances, some questionable decision making and a rash of injuries helped the hosts pull off a second half comeback to win 25-22.

DK turned down two kickable penalties early in the second period and then declined a kick at goal which could have tied the scores in stoppage time — decisions Higgins defended.

The player-coach, who missed the game through injury, said: “Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

“But we scored three superb tries in the first-half, we were well on top and in control of the game.

“We felt we were going to go for the fourth try to secure the bonus point.

“Looking back, maybe you would say we should have taken the three points but you have to respect the players on the pitch who made the call.”

He added: “I don’t know who did make the decision on the pitch.

“We had a chance to kick at goal in stoppage time but went for the try — which we nearly got.

“It was a bold move but had we attempted the penalty and missed people would be asking why we didn’t go for the try.”

A glut of second-half injuries also hampered DK’s play.

Al Francis, Tom Leach, Josh Buggea and Chris Perry were all forced off, though the most serious setback may have been a suspected ruptured hamstring suffered by Higgins’ fellow player-coach Pete Knight.

Higgins said: “I drove Pete to hospital after the game and he has to go in again before they can confirm what he has done.

“The injuries certainly didn’t help us and we have to factor that in.

“Our first-half performance was good, we scored some fantastic tries.

“But the Bees re-grouped at half-time and changed their tactics. We saw far less of the ball in the second period.”