TRIES from Adam Newton, Jon Skurr, Ian Voortman and Ledua Jope, along with four conversions and four penalties from fly-half Phil Jones saw the Tigers improve on a lacklustre first half display against Moseley to eventually overcome the 'red-and-blacks' to win 40-24, gaining revenge for the 32-25 reverse suffered at the Midlanders' hands back in November at Billesley Common.

SEDGLEY PARK           40

MOSELEY                     24 

National League Division One 

REVENGE, as much as a desire for points spurred on the Tigers in this clash, as that 32-25 loss at the hands of the ‘red and blacks’ down at Billesley Common was forgotten, although it was far from a classic performance.

With Sale Sharks’ loan signing Matt Riley making a welcome return to Sedgley’s ranks, along with Director of Rugby Tim Fourie and skipper Jimmy Ponton, who returned after illness and injury respectively, hopes were high the Tigers would dominate the game, however, things were pretty tight until halftime.

It was an edgy opening quarter with both sides keen not to make mistakes, resulting in the game taking the form of a kicking duel, with Moseley’s prolific boot-man Ollie Thomas and Sedgley’s Phil Jones swapping penalties.

The net result was Moseley easing into a 9-6 lead on 23 minutes.In the face of Sedgley’s poor tactical kicking game Mosley were presented with a number of opportunities, but appeared to rely on the accuracy of Thomas’s touch-finding once they had tried to carry the ball for three or four phases and failed to make adequate inroads, despite Tommy Hayes’ efforts to put people away. However, they did keep the Tigers pinned into their own half for much of the opening 20 minutes.

But then Thomas went from hero to zero it one fell swoop. He failed to deal with a hopeful punt down the right touchline and his error was pounced upon by Sedgley flanker Adam Newton who scooped the ball up and sprinted to the line to give Jones the easiest of conversions to make it 13-9 to the Tigers.

With eight minutes of the half remaining Thomas atoned for his mistake and cut their deficit to one point with his fourth successful penalty, but it was rubbed out by Jones who banged over his third to make it 16-12 to Sedgley at half-time.

Sedgley emerged for the second half in determined mood and quickly grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, aided and abetted by the yellow card flashed at Moseley flanker Richard Bignell two minutes after the restart.

At the resulting penalty the Tigers elected to take the scrum and Number 8 Jon Skurr picked up from the base to dive over, with Jones’ goal making it 23-12 to the home side.

Moseley were then pushed off the ball on their own put-in at another scrum and this time Skurr fed centre Ian Voortman who claimed Sedgley’s third try. Jones’ conversion made it 30-12.

Back to 15 men and Moseley stepped up the pressure, but good well drilled Sedgley defence frustrated them, their lateral approach play lacking an incisive element. But they persevered and a prolonged period of possession involving two scrums, three lineouts and two penalties saw them stretch the home side before replacement Mark Evans got on the end of a catch-and-drive to claim Moseley’s first try of the afternoon.

From the restart another Moseley mistake gifted Sedgley possession and Skurr, at the epicentre of a rolling maul, was propelled forward with the ball passed through the hands of Jones, Riley and Newton whose well-timed pass sent Ledua Jope through to the Moseley posts, with Jones’ fourth conversion making it 40-17.

Moseley refused to give in and replacement Paul Knight went over for his side’s second touchdown, goaled by Thomas.They were then handed the advantage when Sedgley had skipper Jimmy Ponton yellow-carded. But despite strong running and Hayes constantly switching the angle of attack, they could not find a way through and this visit to Park Lane proved pointless in more ways than one as the Tigers rattled up win number seven. 

SEDGLEY PARK: Riley, Jope, Briers, Voortman (71 Duffy), Craig, M. Jones, Leck (71 J. Albinson), Gazzola, Roddam (56 M. Jones), Du Plessis, Fourie, Norris (76 Lloyd), Newton, Ponton (C) Skurr. Replacements (not used): Roberts, Evans, Livesey. Tries: Newton 27, Skurr 43, Voortman 47, Jope 68. Conversions: Jones 4.Penalties: Jones 4. Yellow card: Ponton 73. 

MOSELEY: Hayes, Colvin, Binns, Buckley (65 Cox), Oduoza, Aston, Thomas, Hunter (65 Knight), Buxton, Caves (65 Bick), Bayliss (79 Coles), Arnold, Skelding (51 Hadley), Mason, Bignell (51 Evans), Rodwell (79 White). Tries: Evans 64, Knight 71. Conversions: Thomas 1. Penalties: Thomas 4. Yellow card: Bignell 42.