This team has had a sticky start to its first season of 15-a-side rugby, but a sudden influx of players seems to have made a difference. With a smooth display of ball handling in the backs and an undeniable pack presence too, the game was secured within the first half.

Half-time changes allowed Rhyl to come back into the game, making it an enjoyable trip for them, which they appreciated. The win should provide the Sedgley boys the confidence spring-board for forthcoming fixtures in the Lancashire Challenge.

Also at Park Lane, Sedgley under 14s began brightly. They scored a try through strong winger Jack Gardner and should have had a couple more during a dominant first quarter.

The game turned on two tries by a very fast and talented Rhyl right winger. The visitors’ confidence was raised and they went on to play some excellent rugby, consistently outplaying Sedgley at the breakdown, and handling quickly and accurately.

With Park also trying to play open rugby the game was an attractive one, but the Welsh boys became increasingly dominant to run out 38-5 winners. A bit unflattering to the Sedgley boys, that final score.

Sad news was that our U16s failed to field a team for the visit of Rhyl. With three players required for Lancashire training and several other absences, all in the pack, we had to cry off the fixture.

Our Junior Colts lost 19-29 at Eccles. Eccles are a strange club in that they struggle at Junior level – our U13s have just benefited from the folding of their Eccles counterparts – but they always seem to have decent Colts teams.

SP Senior Colts were hit by the absence of Luke Woolley and Owen Jackson, both playing for Lancashire v Durham at Wigan; our congratulations to them. The Lancs team, coached by Rich Senior, won 28-0. Eccles had four players in that starting line-up, by the way.

With several other players also unavailable, Sedgley were apprehensive about the home game against Kendal. But they needn’t have worried! Kendal proved very weak, in the backs especially.

Sedgley gradually got on top during a competitive if poor-quality first half, Jonathan Dauncey’s try from the base of a scrum making it 7-0 at half-time.

Early in the second half a mistake receiving a downfield kick put Sedgley under pressure. For ten minutes Kendal camped out in the 22 without ever looking like scoring a try, in the end settling for a penalty goal.

The final quarter belonged entirely to Sedgley. Big lock Ollie Macauley burst through the centre to set up a try for Dave Rimmer and, with confidence boosted, the Park backs produced some fine handling for Rimmer’s second try. Final score: 19-3.   

SP Colts & Juniors  League & Cup Results & Fixtures 2007/08

Halbro Colts League
http://colts-rugby.org.uk/halbro for full fixtures, results, tables.

Senior Colts (under 19)  Division One
02/09  Altrincham Kersal (H) L 03-09
09/09  Preston G’hoppers (A) D 17-17
23/09  Glossop (H)           L 14-26
30/09  Leigh (H)             W 36-12
07/10  Sandbach (A)          L 03-38
14/10  Kendal (H)            W 19-03
28/10  Eccles (A)
04/11  Caldy (H)

Junior Colts (under 17) Division Three North
02/09  Blackpool (A)         L 24-68
09/09  Bolton (A)            L 05-10
16/09  Clitheroe (A)         W 67- 0
23/09  Fylde (H)             W 33-27
07/10  Kirkby Lonsdale (H)   postponed 
14/10  Eccles (A)            L 19-29
21/10  Fleetwood (H)
04/11  Bury (A)

Lancashire Junior Challenge
http://clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/lancashire/JuniorChallenge0708.aspx

Under 16
16/09  Liverpool Coll (H)    W 38-19
07/10  Bolton (H)            W 33- 3
04/11  Ormskirk (A)

Under 15
16/09  Broughton Park (A)    postponed to Jan
07/10  Bury (H)              L 06-12
04/11  Blackpool (A)

Under 14
16/09  Fleetwood (H)         W 33-05
07/10  no game
04/11  Tarleton (A)

Under 13
16/09  Widnes (A)            H  0-30*
07/10  Vale of Lune (A)      L  5-24
04/11  Warrington (H)        cancelled by Warrington

* denotes ‘reported score’ – under competition rules the score difference must not exceed 30.