A  MUCH improved performance against the 'Green and Whites' saw the Tigers lead 8-10 at half-time, courtesy of a converted Chris Briers try and Phil Jones drop goal.

However, a three-try response early in the second half from Nottingham put the visitors on the back foot, but they hit back with a converted Jonny Roddam pushover try before watching the chance of a losing bonus point disappear as Jones' 84th minute penalty shot when agonisingly wide.

Roddam: Try

The opening quarter was pretty even, although the Green and Whites shaded it in terms of possession and territory.

As early as the third minute the Tigers had the chance to go in front, but Phil Jones’ ambitious 52 metre penalty attempt was unsuccessful, while Tom Barlow gave the home side the lead with a more straight forward kick of his own on 14 minutes.

Nottingham then extended their lead when they ran a penalty with centre Tim Molenaar driving into the Sedgley defence; the ball was then worked right to his centre partner Tim Smith, who ghosted through a stretched Tigers’ defence to make it 8-0.

But within five minutes the Tigers were back within a point.

Good ball retention allowed the visitors to drive first one way then the other with forwards and backs combined well, ending with Jamie Albinson slipping a pass to wing Chris Briers, who crashed over by the right corner flag amid protestations from Nottingham that he was in touch at the point of scoring. However, the try stood and Jones’ touchline conversion made it 8-7.

Nottingham hit back hard and thought they’d scored another try only for the ball it to be ruled held-up over the line.

Three minutes into time-added-on at the end of the half, good work from Fourie and Juan Crous following a lineout take saw the ball fed to Jones, who found himself in enough space to hoist an impressive 43 metre drop goal to ensure the Tigers went in for the break in front.

But two pushover tries (one converted) within five minutes of each other in the third quarter put Nottingham back in front at 20-10.

Seven minutes from time it became 27-10 when Molenaar was put through and used his strength to hold of the challenge of the Sedgley defenders and just reach over the line by the posts to score and to make the conversion even easier.

But the Tigers were not finished. Within four minutes they forced their way over for a second try, this one from hooker Jonny Roddam with Jones kicking the extras to take Sedgley to within 10 points.

Three minutes into time added on, Jones had the opportunity to land a difficult penalty to put his side within seven points, but instead his 47 metre kick went wide, cruelly denying the Tigers a deserved losing bonus point.
 
NOTTINGHAM: Nirmalendran, Kay, Smith, Molenaar, Savage, Barlow (Thompson), Usasz (Pilgrim), Parr (Hopkins), Duffey (Wilcox), Hall (Corbisiero), Raven (Stannard), Rouse, Hammond, Sherriff (Wilks), Montagu.
Tries: Smith, Sherriff, Parr and Molenaar.
Conversions: Barlow, Thompson.
Penalties: Barlow.
 
SEDGLEY TIGERS: Riley, Hall (Van DeVenter 64), Craig, Payne, Briers, Jones, Albinson, Gazzola (Birchall 74), Roddam (Roberts 74). Halsall (Du Plessis 63), Fourie (Norris 62, Townson, Newton, Ponton (Skurr – blood 60), Crous (Skurr – blood 10).
Replacements not used: Nutt.
Tries: Briers (23) and Roddam (73).
Conversions: Jones 2.
Drop goal: Jones.