DEFEAT is never easy to take, but at least for Sedgley Tigers points are being gained even when a win isn’t.

In three of their first four games the Tigers have claimed bonus points; the total is now four, the same as leaders and championship favourites Northampton Saints.

“We targeted 12 points from our first five games and we have eight, so the pressure is on this Saturday when we go down to Esher to come away with four more, which means a win,” said Director of Rugby, Tim Fourie.

“We should have beaten both Launceston and Newbury but we didn’t, however, we did get points from both games which could prove important later on. But that does not detract from the fact we lost to two teams we should have beaten.

“If we had taken Newbury like we should have we could have gone down to Surrey with no pressure on us, but now we have to come home with a victory.

“They may be new to National Division One, but Esher are led by Mike Schmidt, the former Canadian international and Rotherham coach. He is very thorough, he will have his boys well organised. That means we will have to change our plans, play more rugby and speed things up instead of kicking for position.”

He then addressed one particular area where not only his players but he himself will have to improve, adding: “The other thing we have to sort out is our discipline.

“I am just as guilty as anyone for letting opposing players wind me up and provoke a reaction. I will work on that and it will not happen again. I’ve got a big mouth at times and I have to learn to shut it.”

Fourie, along with backs coach Andy Northey will take the same 22 that lost 13-14 to Newbury but probably shake-up the starting 15.

Like Sedgley, newcomers Esher have won one of their first four, beating London Welsh 28-16, while losing to Plymouth Albion, Bedford and Doncaster. They are two points and one place adrift of Sedgley in the table.
 
 
ESHER (possible)        v         SEDGLEY TIGERS
 
HALLETT Neil           15         RILEY Matt      
MOORE Matt             14         HALL Chris      
CLOUSTON Toby          13         CRAIG Andy    
ARMITAGE Bevon         12         PAYNE Freeman
FLOCKHART Douglas      11         BRIERS Chris   
HEWITT David           10         JONES Phil      
LANE Llyr               9         ALBINSON Jamie         
CORMACK Duncan          1         HALSALL Martin          
CAMPBELL James          2         RODDAM Jonny           
WARREN Tom              3         DU PLESSIS Petrus     
HARRIS Adam             4         FOURIE Tim     
BARKER Paul             5         TOWNSON Glen          
BUTTERWORTH Mark        6         NEWTON Adam           
STARLING Lee            7         PONTON Jimmy           
BARRELL Dan             8         SKURR Jon      
 
SMITH Jeff             16         BIRCHALL Danny         
BLAKEBURN Mike         17         KEYS Paul       
GOLDSMITH Simon        18         NORRIS Ed      
BARR    Graham         19         CROUS Juan    
ALEXANDER Andrew       20         NUTT Steve      
FISHER Kevin           21         WILKINSON Chris         
INGLIS James           22         VAN DEVENTER Jan