In contrast Birkenhead lost several members to their first XV to enable them to rest first team players carrying niggling injuries ahead of their forthcoming cup final at Twickenham.

Birkenhead kicked off with the advantage of a strong wind behind them and after eight minutes opened the scoring with a penalty to lead 0-3.

However, Sedgley immediately hit back in style and showed what a dangerous team they can be when they get the basics right at the ruck and their handling and passing are spot on.

Left winger Obi Ebizie fielded a clearing kick on the half way line and fed full back Phil Largan who made the initial incursion into the Birkenhead defensive line.

With quick ball from the ensuing ruck and crisp passing along the line, centre and captain Sion O’Hare zipped through a gap before offloading to Henry Monsell, the speedy right winger scorching in at the corner to score a fine unconverted try and put Sedgley in front 5-3.

That was soon extended to 8-3 when fly half Dominic Kohler kicked a penalty after Birkenhead had infringed at a ruck.

Shortly afterwards Sedgley lost the ball at a ruck and compounded matters by conceding a penalty. Turnovers at the rucks were a common occurrence throughout the half and at the interval Sedgley Coach Richard Senior gave his team a deserved rollicking for them.

Fortunately Birkenhead missed the long range penalty attempt. But back the visitors came and when they broke into Sedgley’s 22 it took a tremendous tackle by scrum-half Danny Harrison to keep them out. O’Hare then relieved the pressure with a terrific break and reached the half way line before he was stopped.

Kohler showed his kicking prowess against the wind and with willing and speedy chasers Sedgley was able to pressurise Birkenhead in their 22.

This season locks Andrew Clegg and Dean Williams, along with their lifters have often shown their expertise at picking off their opponents throw in at the line out.

On 30 minutes Clegg did so again to good effect. The Sedgley pack drove the ensuing maul 20 metres for flanker Chris Leader to touch down for an unconverted try and extend Sedgley’s lead to 13-3.

Just before the interval Birkenhead lost the ball in their 22. Centre Paul Morris hacked it on and, when Birkenhead failed to retrieve it, flanker Dave Livesey was on hand to pick up and touch down. With Kohler converting, Sedgley led 20-3 at half time.

The second half saw the welcome return from injury of Rob Leigh to the back row. Unfortunately his dynamic running from the base of the scrum was negated when a Birkenhead prop retired injured at the interval and the entire second period saw uncontested scrums. Nevertheless he made a telling contribution in all the other facets of the game.

The first attack of the half came from Birkenhead. Two penalties put them in a promising position and a powerful run by one of their many beefy players threatened the Sedgley try line and it took the combined efforts of Monsell and Largan to halt him.

Kohler was now starting to make intelligent use of the strong wind. His probing kicks pinned Birkenhead back in their 22 and enabled Sedgley to gain good line out positions. With quick delivery from the top of a line out and hooker Paul Keyes, acting as the link man to the backs, Sedgley scored another terrific try. O’Hare made the incisive opening; back row forward Matt Smith carried on the move and when he was tackled he deftly offloaded to the supporting Paul Urmston and the replacement scrum-half scooted in to score. With Kohler converting, Sedgley led 27-3 after 50 minutes.

There followed a period in which both sides were guilty of sloppy handling and seemed incapable of retaining possession. However Sedgley then had a purple patch when they scored four tries in ten minutes and showed their true credentials as the league leaders.

The first came when Birkenhead again lost the ball in their 22. Crisp passing saw Monsell pop up on the opposite flank to score in the corner. Kohler kicked a fine conversion to make the score 34-3 on 60 minutes.

The second came when Leigh made inroads into the Birkenhead defence and Kohler perfectly executed another long kick to take play back into the opposition’s 22. After Sedgley stole another Birkenhead line out throw, Morris cleverly switched play to the left flank for Obi to score. With Kohler kicking another touch line conversion, Sedgley led 41-3.

Smith took the restart and breached the Birkenhead defensive screen. Good passing saw Morris skip past several defenders and race away to score. Kohler converted to extend Sedgley’s lead to 48-3.

The final try came after Kohler put an excellent kick into the Birkenhead 22 and his chasers forced the defenders to concede a line out.  The forwards then executed a perfect catch and drive with Leader scoring. Kohler certainly had his kicking boots on and landed a further touch line conversion to increase the lead to 55-3.

After such champagne rugby the league leaders then conceded seven penalties in the final ten minutes of the match. Nevertheless they showed their defensive mettle and stood up well to the serious examination they were set by the entire Birkenhead team who had never let their heads drop.

The attackers executed a good series of pick-and-drives, switching play back and forth, battering the Sedgley try line.

The first wave was only stopped when prop Danny Greenhalgh halted one of Birkenhead’s beefy brigade in his tracks a few metres from the line and ripped the ball off him. The final thrust was ended when Obi and Kohler combined well to bring down the Birkenhead left winger when he looked certain to score in the corner.

So Sedgley had kept their try line intact and made it 23 wins out of 24 matches to consolidate their lead over the chasing teams from Fylde and Manchester.

Note: Sorry this report is late - been on holiday. AlanM.