They even had to utilise flanker Dave Livesey in the centre, but fortunately Matt Smith made a timely return to the fray from a lengthy absence with a knee injury and put in a sterling performance at Number 8.

Altrincham were strengthened by the inclusion of three first team forwards in their pack, who used their experience to deny Sedgley quick ball at the rucks and who put Sedgley’s scrum under pressure at times. Consequently Altrincham played well above their lowly league position.

The game was played in a bitterly cold wind blowing straight down the pitch. That helped to explain the inordinate number of handling errors by both teams, which disrupted the flow of the game. All these factors contributed to a sub-standard performance from the league leaders who didn’t take full advantage of the incisive breaks made by centre Tom Albinson. 

Altrincham kicked off with the advantage of the wind and the slope and dominated the opening minutes. They had the first chance to score but missed a kickable penalty shot at goal. Their backs then penetrated the Sedgley line and only resolute defence saved the day.

It was ten minutes before Sedgley mounted their first attack. Albinson made the break from well inside his own half and the move was carried on by Smith and lock Dean Williams. However, a knock on brought it to an end.

But they were not to be denied. Albinson made the decisive opening following a scrum on the half-way line and penetrated to well inside the opposition’s 22 before he was stopped. Altrincham infringed at the subsequent ruck and a quickly taken tap penalty saw prop Leyton Taylor crash over. Fly-half Dominic Kohler converted to give Sedgley a 7-0 lead.

On 25 minutes Altrincham kicked a penalty to reduce Sedgley’s lead to 7-3. For the rest of the half neither side could get going as they repeatedly lost possession when in good attacking positions.

The second-half opened with Sedgley soon extending their lead. Winger and colt Daniel Broderick, making his first appearance for the Seconds, did well to take a tricky Altrincham up and under.

With quick ball from the ensuing ruck, Kohler fired out a miss pass to full back Phil Largan, who timed his run into the line to perfection. He was felled by a high tackle but swiftly regained his forward momentum to be driven over the line by his supporting team-mates. Kohler converted to make the score 14-3.

Twice Albinson made great breaks but both times the ball was turned the ball over and the attacks were halted. However, on 55 minutes Kohler kicked a penalty to extend Sedgley’s lead to 17-3.

From the restart Williams immediately got Sedgley going forward again. Good support from Taylor and Albinson took play to well within the Altrincham 22, but again Sedgley turned the ball over at the ruck. However, Williams put in a determined tackle on an Altrincham back rower forcing him to lose the ball close to the try line and Smith picked up and drove forward but resolute defence held him up over the try line.

Altrincham then showed that they could also be dangerous on the counter attack. Their centre made a splendid break up the left wing from his own try line and reached half-way before his mazy run was halted by a fine tackle by Largan.

Taylor then regained the momentum for Sedgley when he deftly intercepted. The swift prop set off on the attack but the speedy Altrincham backs quickly ended his fine run. But Sedgley soon capitalised on the attacking position when Kohler kicked his second penalty to increase Sedgley’s lead to 20-3.

Back came Altrincham. They twice broke through the Sedgley line but faulty handling and resilient defence denied them the try that their play deserved.

Sedgley then showed their counter attacking prowess when lock Andrew Clegg created the opening from his own 22. Albinson and winger Obi kept the move going and took play well into the Altrincham half before the break out was stopped when Altrincham infringed at the ruck.  Unfortunately the quickly taken tap penalty brought no reward when again Sedgley knocked on when in a good scoring position.

In the final move of the match Altrincham created another opening from well inside their own 22. The winger sped up the left channel and got into the Sedgley half before he was stopped dead in his tracks by another thunderous Largan tackle.

So the league leaders had ground out a deserved win, though they had not been at their best, against an Altrincham Kersal side who tried to play positive rugby throughout the game.