DUDLEY Heathens got back to winning ways with a thrilling 51-41 win over reigning National League champions Bournemouth at Monmore Green.

Once again fans from throughout the Dudley Borough made the short trip across to Wolverhampton to back their team in massive numbers as the battle for a new stadium continues.

It was a solid all-round team performance from the Heathens, carrying the name of the famous old Cradley club.

They went into an early lead but Bournemouth continued to peg them back and it needed a spectacular late rally for Will Pottinger's men to claim maximum points.

On a thrilling night of high-speed drama Bournemouth used Mark Baseby for double points as a last throw of the dice in Heat 14 - but Heathens claimed the minor placings to secure the win.

However, the visitors still had a chance to claim a bonus point by losing by six or less - but Heathens skipper Lee Smart pulled off the win with Jon Armstrong third.

Reserve Tom Perry was in spectacular form for his 12-points and skipper Smart notched 11+1 - including a retirement.

Said Perry: "I really enjoyed myself, everything went really well for me and I was making much better starts.

"It was a great win for us, to beat the champions like that and it was great to see Ash (Ashley Morris) in the points."

DUDLEY: Tom Perry 12, Lee Smart 11+1, Ashley Morris 9+1, Jon Armstrong 9, Richard Franklin 8+1, Jake Anderson 1+1, James Sarjeant 1.

BOURNEMOUTH: Mark Baseby 11+1, Kyle Howarth 10, Chris Mills 8+1, Daniel Halsey 6, Karl Mason 4, Aaron Baseby 2, John Resch 0.