Luctonians 12 pts Dudley Kingswinford 14 pts.

HEAD coach Andy Williams admitted he was ‘baffled’ why Luctonians were not awarded a penalty in the dying minutes of Saturday’s narrow derby defeat at Mortimer Park.

Williams said he wanted an explanation from referee Dave Edmunds who didn’t penalise Dudley’s scrum twice in front of their own posts.

Dudley survived the late onslaught, won a scrum against the head and cleared the ball to touch to spark some jubilant visiting celebrations.

“I am not one to criticise the officials,” said former Wales international Williams.

“But when you push a side 25 yards and do not get a penalty for their front-row going down, it becomes baffling.

“Had we got the penalty, you would expect us to pop that kick over and win the match.

“Some of the decisions were baffling and I would love an explanation but I’ll save it for another day.”

Luctonians also felt aggrieved that Charlie Meredith scored a try, which wasn’t awarded.

Steve Savage, RFU panel development manager for levels three and four, said he spoke to Williams after Luctonians’ game with Sheffield.

“I have explained the process to Andy and I encourage dialogue – whether positive or negative - on a weekly basis. “It’s important that clubs send me the DVDs of their game and then give me a ring.”

Savage added: “Luctonians are not a club that rings me on a regular basis and I have had no contact from them about this game. Referees are accountable and, like players, they make mistakes. We welcome dialogue and we have clear and transparent feedback process for clubs.”

The hosts were without director of rugby Alex Davidson, who was at a wedding. The Herefordshire side, who are now 10th, travel to bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield this Saturday before hosting second-bottom Stockport on April 27.

Williams said: “We have to re-assess things over the summer and look where we go. I hope to be back next season. I hope to get a good pre-season under my belt. I love the place and I am enjoying it.”

Geraint Langdon was out of luck in the first period when a penalty and a conversion attempt following Nathan Roy-Smith’s try both came back off an upright.

He was successful, however, following a second score from man-of-the-match Ed Taylor but two Gareth Bown penalties for Dudley meant a 12-6 lead for the home side at this interval.

The deficit was cut to three points by a further successful Bown penalty before the controversially-disallowed Meredith try was swiftly followed by an unconverted score by flanker Joe Carpenter for the visitors with just 10 minutes remaining.