Colts v Glossop

Sedgley, like the opposition, were suffering from the absence of key players but, in a scrappy game featuring some outstanding tries, Park always held the upper hand.

The scrum looked solid with Ashley Robinson and Sam Purvis in the second row, and the line-out went well as the lads adjusted to new laws.

New recruit Lewis McKay also featured prominently in the pack, along with the always excellent Andy Dauncey. Robinson’s unselfish play led directly to two tries.

Although the backs were somewhat disjointed the wingers nevertheless saw plenty of ball, with Jonathan Stanley scoring two tries, the 'official' final score being 38-19.

Sedgley’s Under 14s side also opened with a Cup win, a one-sided game against Fleetwood, while the Junior Colts had an excitingly narrow win over their Fylde counterparts in a Lancs & Cheshire Division 3 match.

The club's Senior Colts are in Division 1 and they and Glossop put on a fine display of rugby, a credit to all concerned, not least to the referee.

Glossop were marginally the stronger, more cohesive and fitter unit, and they deserved their 26-14 win. Sedgley had wind advantage in the first half and scored an outstanding try from a brilliant break and pass by winger Sean O’Connor, but the scores were level 7-7 at the interval and again 14-14 midway through the second half.

A defensive mix-up put the visitors ahead followed almost immediately by a good individual try from their flanker, and there was no way back for the Sedgley boys against determined and hard-tackling opponents.