I'd love to come up with a glorious, all-encompassing reason to explain my absence but I'm not one for making excuses - I make amends! Following the reading of this report, some of you may declare that I have become a fair weather reporter and only immortalise in ink those games in which the Tigers emerge victorious. Keep it quiet, but between you and I, you may be right.....And so, without further ado, onto the latest instalment in the series charting the magnificent 4th XV and their valiant fight in the name of SPRUFC.

The scene was set on Saturday for an epic, opposite end of the table clash. Oldham 3rd XV, sat happily (and somewhat comfortably) at 3rd place in the table, travelled to Park Lane to meet the plucky 4th XV, a team that despite not having had the best fortune during this season, have continued to fight hard and play with pride. In a weekend where there was a dramatic and initially contentious change in the England fly-half shirt, the Tigers kept their faith in the returning Tony Jones in the number 10 spot and also welcomed back Colin Hart after several weeks on the sidelines nursing an arm injury.

Other faces on display included famed dummy-pulling (and I don't mean he kisses blow up dolls) marvel Pete Keers in the hooker shirt, Micky Brooks in at prop for a half alongside Jason 'the voice' Routh, and of course the safe hands of Chris Livesey marshalling the team from full back. We also welcomed some new faces; Jo was placed in the centres and young Mike Keers made an appearance on the wing.

Having chance to survey the visiting team, it was predicted that the Tigers forwards were going to have a tough day on the turf. The Oldham pack were certainly a large bunch and with each weighing in at a mass that would scare most NHS doctors into emergency gastric bypass manoeuvres, it seemed that the scene was set for a battering in the scrum. By contrast, their backs appeared svelte and fleet of foot and looked likely to be able to move the ball quickly around the park. Nevertheless, the boys took to the field filled with confidence and under the watchful eye of referee and Sedgley phenomenon Steve Ward, the game got underway.

The first half was an evenly balanced affair with both sides probing and making ground throughout. The stalemate was broken fairly rapidly with the aforementioned high-speed Oldham backs carving their way through to score the first try which was subsequently converted. Realising that despite their size, the Oldham forwards weren't strong, the Tigers went back to basics and in a succession of rucks made a good deal of ground and opened up the Oldham defence. This allowed the SP backs to spread the game out wide and with some fine interplay between the centres, the first of the Tigers points were claimed by Colin Hart.

The kick was taken by Tony Jones and successfully sailed between the uprights. Oldham hit back and scored again through a breakaway by their nimble backs with the conversion missing the target. It was then Sedgley's turn to breakaway and following a break by Pete Keers, the backs took possession and scored a well worked try.

The second half was dominated by the Tigers. Taking encouragement from their success at ball retention and repeated rapid gains in territory, the boys fought hard and the points soon started to mount. More tries from Colin Hart and a brace for his centre partner, Jo, took Sedgley out of reach of the Oldham team who had visibly started to tire. With other tries from the SP scrum half and forwards, the game was well won by the better team on the day. The fixture was played out in good spirit by both sides (with the exception of a little touch of fisticuffs spearheaded by our venerated hooker) and was a great day on the pitches for all.

The 4th XV head to local rivals Bury on Saturday (22nd March) to play a re-arranged fixture from earlier in the season. A good turn out is a prerequisite if we are to stand a chance of winning so grab you boots and get down to the clubhouse for 13:30 on the day! See you there.

Until next time, I remain yours in entirely subjective and quasi-fictional match reporting.