A wonderful first half display maintained Sedgley’s place at the top of the Bateman BMW Premier League.

From the start the game was played at pace. Sedgley - expecting a tough encounter with third-placed Waterloo and up for the contest - probably played their best rugby of the season so far.

Waterloo soaked up the pressure well, maintaining good defensive shape, and Park were happy to go for points from penalties, a long-range one that missed and a 30-metre one kicked by centre Tom Albinson.

The pressure was building and, eventually, the first try came from a cleverly set up maul, flanker Rob Leigh touching down near the posts; Albinson converted.

From the restart Sedgley scored a sensationally good try. Leigh fielded the kick on his 22 near the right touchline and sold a dummy before launching a sweeping move that finished with full-back Phil Largan in the left corner; 15-0.

Albinson’s strength and balance took him through the centre for an individual try, and number 8 Matt Lamprey supplied the finishing 50 metres of another impressive team effort. With Albinson showing previously hidden talents from the kicking tee, the half finished at 29-0.

Sedgley’s accuracy deserted them after the interval. The team continued to enjoy territorial superiority, apart from a clean interception and 70-metre try by the visitors’ winger, and the pack took several scrums against the head.

This advantage was nullified when the scrums became uncontested, and Waterloo defended as well as they had in the opening quarter. Unable to string three passes together, now, Sedgley finally settled for Lamprey’s direct route, their only try of the half.

Next two weeks: away at New Brighton in the Halbro Cup on December 8th, and another top-of-the-league match at Fylde on the 15th.