The line-out has always been a strong area for this team, and that opening try came from this source, touched down by Chris Leader. Then it was the turn of the backs, pocket battleship Sion O’Hare and Tom Albinson setting up Phil Largan. Full-back Steve Nutt converted both from the touchline.

Largan scored the third, too, from Nutt’s pass. From the kick-off big Dean Williams caught the ball, bashed aside the first tackle, and ran 65 metres through covering defenders to score; an astonishing effort by a teenager, even one standing (allegedly) 7 ft 1 in.

Further tries by the other lock Andrew Clegg and by winger Henry Monsell made it 36-0 at half-time.

Sedgley’s play had been a mixture of the ordinary and the brilliant. There were far more handling errors than usual, but the team had too much ball and too much pace in all areas for their brave opponents.

The second half brought a further eight tries. Monsell scored twice more to complete his hat-trick; O’Hare scored one and Leader got a second; number eight Dave Livesey scored three times; but the biggest cheer was for the last, touched down by Leyton Taylor.

West Park never stopped trying to play proper rugby, and their number 12 centre in particular put in an almost unbelievable defensive effort. But other players lacked the fitness to play at this level. I was told that the club has lost 19 players since challenging for the title last season. One can only wish West Park good luck for the future.

In the more immediate future, Sedgley play Hoppers at Park Lane next Saturday at a time when I will be at Heathrow waiting for my flight to the Land of the Long White Cloud. By the time I return the team may have the title wrapped up, as well as being in the final of the Halbro Cup.

The semi-final against Manchester is eagerly awaited, but the Grove Park boys lost 31-17 to Lymm today; so what’s going on there, then?