DINGS made it three National League Two West wins in a row following a hard-fought victory over traditional rivals Old Reds at Scotland Lane. As expected, it was a close run thing, with Crusaders edging the try count by five to four. Dings' latest bonus-point triumph also signalled the end of Reds' proud two season long winning league run on home soil as well as notching up Crusaders' fourth-straight win against their old adversaries.

A sizable crowd gathered to watch the game unfold in the glorious south Bristol sunshine, and would have surely got their money's worth as the cross city rivals went at it hammer and tongs. The home side - playing down the slope in the first-half - were undoubtedly on top in the opening quarter but crucially didn't make the most of their territorial advantage as the visitors dug in.

Three penalties awarded to the home side were kicked into the corner in the opening minutes, but nothing came to fruition for Reds. They did, however, open the scoring on the half-hour mark with a penalty from fly-half Ash Groves, who had a fine game in the number ten shirt for the hosts. TJ Wilstead levelled the scores shortly after but it was the home side that crossed for the first try of the afternoon shortly before the break - full-back Kieran Kelly was put through a gap to to touchdown. Groves added the conversion from out wide to make it 10-3 at the interval.

Dings hit back early in the second-half thanks to a trademark driving line-out that was polished off by hooker Aaron Thompson. Wilstead added the extras to level the scores. Again Reds responded with a try in the corner. Groves' conversion attempt cannoned off the posts and stayed out. The tit for tat nature of the game continued with scrum-half Tom Knight sniping down the blindside to dive over for Dings' second try. The conversion drifted wide.

Crusaders then went through the gears to forge a 32-15 advantage with three further tries from skipper Matty Smith, replacement hooker Joe Hawkesby and impressive youngster Tom Ormsby, who was making his debut for the club. But to their credit Reds didn't go away and finished the game on top, adding two further converted tries in the dying minutes to get within three-points of Dings and pick up two deserved bonus-points in the process.