RUGBY LIONS...35 SEDGLEY PARK...50 RFU National Division Two.
SEDGLEY clinched the title at Rugby Lions to round off a marvellous season that has seen the little North Manchester club brush aside some of rugby union's more illustrious names to claim it's place in the big time on merit.
The first 25 minutes saw both teams' defences on top, before Park finally broke through, bringing Bullough in from the right wing and de Jager from full-back to create the extra men needed to send Glynn crashing over at the corner.
Lions hit back with an equally good try, scored and converted by Rahui, before being penalised for over-robust play, giving Ueckermann the opportunity to slot the ball between the posts.
From the restart de Jager made ground on the left, kicked, gathered and then passed to Yates, who drew the opposition full-back to give the space for Voortman to score a try.
Ueckermann converted this one to give Sedgley a 7-15 half-time lead.
The second half began at a furious pace.
The Whitefield team scored following a great forward drive that enabled McCormack to dance over the line, Ueckermann again converting.
More good play, amongst the best seen from Park this season, saw Voortman cross the line for his second and yet another successful Ueckermann conversion.
Undaunted by a 7-29 deficit, the Lions hit back with a Handley try, created from a line-out and converted by Raui.
Sedgley then re-asserted their position: Arnold, after making a sparkling run for such a big man, passed inside for Bullough to get his second try, converted by Ueckermann.
Within minutes the visitors had added a further seven points, courtesy of a Fourie line-out catch and drive, together with the by now inevitable conversion.
Leading 14-43 Sedgley took their collective feet off the communal gas pedal and allowed Rugby to score three tries in 12 minutes, two by Handley, one by Reed and all converted by Rahui.
But the last word was Park's, with de Jager outpacing the Lions' defence and Ueckermann converting to round off not only an impressive performance but also an impressive season.
For years in the shadows of Lancashire's greats, Sedgley Park now step bravely forward into the National One limelight, secure in the knowledge that they are now a name to be reckoned with.
That's some progress for that little team from North Manchester. Now for the premiership!
SEDGLEY: de Jager, Bullough, Voortman, Hassan, Glynn, Ueckermann, McCormack, Roberts, Oxley, Thomas, Lund, Arnold, Senior, Yates, Fourie. Replacements: Keys, Wilkinson, Lloyd, Collie.
Bank Holiday Monday, May 3, Sedgley take on Vale of Lune in the Lancashire Cup Final at Preston Grasshoppers.
And the club will probably take the opportunity to give a fair few of its development squad the opportunity to finish what they have started in this competition.
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