SEDGLEY PARK...20

ESHER...14

National League Two

SEDGLEY introduced a new player, lock Erik Lund, and welcomed back Chris Glynn on the wing, and both players were to make a significant contribution in a game dominated by the weather.

Each team had early scoring opportunities.

Ryno Ueckermann missed a penalty attempt, while Esher twice threatened Sedgley's line.

Right wing Nyashia Shumba was beaten to the rolling ball by the covering Dave McCormack, and on the other flank Piers Gregory was well tackled by Arno De Jager.

After 17 minutes Ueckermann put Sedgley ahead with a penalty goal following foul play.

A little dust-up between opposing locks Paul Arnold and Edward Mallett then saw both men depart to the sin-bin, but Mr Woodmason's firm and sympathetic refereeing ensured that from this point the teams concentrated solely on playing rugby.

Esher were having marginally the better of the play and a break by scrum-half John O'Reilly had Sedgley stretched.

A penalty kick by visitors' full-back Jon Gregory struck a post and caused more problems, but again the Sedgley defence held and replied strongly, with a couple of driving mauls and some impressive running by prop Huw Thomas.

The reward was a second Ueckermann penalty to extend the lead to 6-0 after 32 minutes.

Esher, however, scored a simple looking try from a line-out on the Sedgley 22, an inside pass putting flanker Glyn Dewhurst between the posts. Jon Gregory converted for a 7-6 half-time lead.

Four minutes into the second half Park regained the lead with a good try.

An Esher handling move broke down on Sedgley's 22, Carlos Hassan's skilful hands kept the ball alive, and De Jager's long kick and chase took play to the other end.

Sedgley regained possession and kept it, and a long and patient build-up culminated in a try for Tim Fourie, which Ueckermann converted.

There followed a lengthy period of Esher ascendancy during which Sedgley defended well, none more so than Glynn, who made an outstanding tackle on the muscular Shumba.

And, when Sedgley finally broke out, the result was a spectacular try.

Lund, impressive on his Tigers' debut, won a line-out on his own 22, burst away with a dummy and multiple hand-offs, and covered 50 metres down the left touchline.

Once again, when it really mattered, Sedgley's continuity was good, and Hassan scored from Glynn's controlled kick ahead. Ueckermann added an excellent conversion and Sedgley led 20-7.

The game had a final twist, however, as a wild pass put Esher into Sedgley territory where they then stole a line-out ball for the impressive Dewhurst to put back-row colleague Ciaran Bird in at the posts.

Just six points the advantage, and the final act of the game was a chip-kick over the Sedgley defence with only Chris Glynn in the way of two attackers.

However, he was up to the task and Sedgley hung on for two hard-earned points.

SEDGLEY: De Jager, Bullough, Voortman, Hassan, Glynn, Ueckermann, McCormack, Roberts, Keys, Thomas, Arnold, Lund, Senior, Yates, Fourie. Subs: Pinnick, Geddis, Wilkinson, Lloyd.