BEDFORD BLUES 13, SEDGLEY PARK 8: UPHILL and in driving rain, Sedgley may not have got the victory their performance deserved, but they still came away from Goldington Road with a precious losing point.

Leading 8-3 at half-time, the Tigers emerged for the second half facing up the slope and were further hampered when player-coach Tim Fourie was sin-binned with just over 10 minutes to go.

But the fact they hung on and emerged with a point is further proof that the National One new boys are learning to cope with life

The Blues took the lead as early as the fourth minute through the trusty boot of Lee Hinton, with Park drawing level 11 minutes later with a Blair Feeney kick.

The muddy conditions were preventing flowing rugby, with neither side were able to get into their stride.

Sedgley were also falling foul of the referee and Hinton was presented with another penalty opportunity but missed the target.

Park then went close and threaten to score the first try of the game, but were denied the five points by a knock-on.

Half-way through the half it was the Blues' turn to go close with a move that began behind their own try line.

But fortunately for the Tigers centre Ian Voortman was on hand to snuff out the danger with a timely tackle.

Shortly after another Bedford attack was relieved by Feeney's kick to touch.

The Sedgley pack, with injured prop Gareth Roberts replaced by Petrus Du Plessis, was up against a much bigger set of forwards, but they nevertheless battled away as usual and made light of the size differential.

Having sucked up what appeared to be endless pressure the ball popped up nicely for winger John Feeley on the stroke of half-time and he pounced on the opportunity to go over for a well deserved try. Unfortunately Feeney missed the conversion attempt.

The Blues began the second half determined to get back on top and had a chance to claw back three points early on, but Hinton, usually reliable with the boot, missed on this occasion.

However, a few minutes later he was successful with a huge kick from half-way which took the score to 8-6.

Tigers' other winger, Richard Welding, looked like stretching the score, but his run down the touchline was halted short of the Bedford try line.

The home side continued to push Sedgley down the slope and they made the most of a chance when a Feeney kick was charged down, Ian Vass winning the race for the touchline on the hour, with Hinton adding the conversion.

As if it was not hard enough, Bedford's job was made easier when Fourie was shown a yellow card on 71 minutes for a professional foul.

However, Park proved how tough they can be by not conceding any more points and making the best of a bad situation by claiming a bonus point for losing by less than seven points.

l SEDGLEY: de Jager, Feeley, Voortman, Naylor, Welding, Feeney, Wilkinson, Du Plessis, Oxley, Thomas, Fourie, Lund, Senior, Ponton, Skurr. Replacements: Bullough, Collie (for du Plessis,62), Hassan, Keys, Lourens, McCormack, Stockdale

l This Saturday Sedgley travel to Old Deer Park to take on London Welsh.

l The Second XV host Wharfedale at Park Lane on Friday, October 29, kick-off 7.30pm. Admission free.