A WIN is win. But against another side perceived as fellow ‘strugglers,’ failing to take maximum points and letting your opponents grab a losing bonus point took the shine of the Tigers’ first road win of the season at Esher last Saturday.

Who says so? Tigers’ Director of Rugby, Tim Fourie.

“We played pretty well, we threw the ball around but too many guys gave up possession too easily,” he said.

“We were leading 30-11 yet still couldn’t kill them off when we had the opportunity, which meant we didn’t get the fourth try for the extra bonus point and we let them close the gap to claim the losing bonus point, which again I put down to a lack of composure.

“Yes we won, but letting that fifth point slip and letting them in for one could bite us in the bum later in the season if we are not careful.

“It is just frustrating, we were good but we could have been even better, so perhaps it is good that we are facing a side like Northampton this Saturday (kick-off 3pm) because that will be a different kind of test.”

The star-studded Saints, who are odds-on favourites to romp to the National Division One title and book an instant return to the Guinness Premiership, descend on Park Lane and are sure to bring a big following with them, swelling the Sedgley crowd to between 1500 and 2000.

But the Tigers have been there before when they entertained Bristol, Harlequins and Leeds; although Fourie reckons Northampton are another step up again.

“You just have to look at the talent they have at their disposal, the likes of former All Blacks Mark Robinson, Bruce Reihana and Carlos Spencer, it’s going to be a huge test for us.

“But just like Quins they are mortal and bleed like the rest of us, plus we have nothing to lose, so we will go out aiming to score four tries to claim at least one point and see where it takes us. We’ll give it a go, enjoy ourselves and see what happens.”

SEDGLEY TIGERS        v        NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

RILEY, Matt           15       SPENCER, Carlos
HALL, Chris           14       DIGGIN, Paul
CRAIG, Andy           13       KYDD, Robbie
PAYNE, Freeman        12       DOWNEY, James
BRIERS, Chris         11       REIHANA, Bruce (C)
JONES, Phil           10       MYLER, Stephen
ALBINSON, Jamie        9       VASS, Ian
GAZZOLA, Phil          1       VICKERS, John
RODDAM, Jonny          2       WARD, Dave
HALSALL, Martin        3       STEWART, Barry
FOURIE, Tim (C)        4       LORD, Matt
TOWNSON, Glen          5       SHORT, Christian
CROUS, Juan            6       TUPAI, Paul
NEWTON, Adam           7       FOX, Darren
SKURR, Jon             8       HOPLEY, Mark

BIRCHALL, Danny       16       SHIELDS, Paul
KEYS, Paul            17       SIGLEY, Terry
DU PLESSIS, Petrus    18       BROWNE, Damien
NORRIS, Ed            19       RUDZKI, Karl
VAN DEVENTER, Jan     20       BRAKE, John
WILKINSON, Chris      21       STARLING, Neil
NUTT, Steve           22       ASHTON, Chris