Fourie flattener for Sedgley

SEDGLEY Park's season was turned upside down with the loss of skipper and coach Tim Fourie at Esher on Saturday.

The South African forward is unlikely to play again this season after dislocating a shoulder during the game down in Surrey.

He flew straight back to his homeland after the game to visit his father, who is suffering from meningitis, and although he was due back in England today, it is unsure exactly when he will return.

Sedgley's injury problems were compounded with the loss of back Jon Scales, who suffered a severe gash to an ankle.

Scales' injury was doubly painful as he had only just returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines after breaking the same ankle.

This time the ankle was cut through to the bone and Scales had to have internal and external stitiches inserted to repair the damage. He is expected to be out of action for another four or five weeks.

Half back Arno de Jaeger also had stitches inserted in head wounds at half-time during the game down in Surrey, but was able to continue after the interval.

Richard Senior is in line to take over the captaincy in the absence of Fourie and Steve Hazzelby is expected to take on the bulk of the coaching duties.

In terms of replacements to cover for the injured players, Sedgley could do a lot worse than follow Orrell's example. They have acquired three players on loan from Leeds and a look in the direction of Sale Sharks could benefit Sedgley.

At Esher, two good teams made light of a muddy pitch to produce one of the best games of the season, a great advertisement for rugby at this level.

The Sedgley lads put in a huge effort, especially in defence, scored the only try, and felt a little unlucky to be on the wrong end of the result.

Within a minute Sedgley were three points down to a Jon Gregory penalty, and ten minutes later they had lost both Fourie and Scales to injury.

The best scoring chance came from wing Ross Bullough who sliced through and kicked ahead; he appeared to have been late-tackled, but the referee waved play on, and it took a bullocking run by Richard Senior to set up the position from which Arno de Jager kicked the equalising penalty.

For all the excellence of play, by both sides, there was no further score before half-time, though Esher blew one golden opportunity when giant wing Nyshia Shumba knocked on inside Sedgley's 22, a rare mistake by one of the best players on the pitch.

There was no slackening of pace in the second half, and if Esher had most of the ball, and territory too, Sedgley's defence was outstanding, even with prop/hooker Gareth Roberts having to play in the back row.

Gregory put the home team back into the lead when Sedgley pulled down a maul, and then kicked another penalty for an alleged high tackle.

Then came the game's best moment. Rob Moon, restored to the full-back position in which he has no equal in the league, cut through brilliantly, sold a delightful dummy, and found Bullough in support.

The tall winger still had plenty to do, but he outpaced a couple of defenders to score between the posts. De Jager's conversion put Sedgley ahead for the first time.

The lead lasted just five minutes. Once again Sedgley were penalised and once again Gregory was on target. In addition, Roberts found himself in the sin-bin for persistent infringement by his team, a severe disadvantage for Sedgley against such strong opponents.

However, in the 20 minutes that remained, Sedgley had try-scoring opportunities. Centre Carlos Hassan gathered a kick ahead and flicked the ball up to Bullough who was unable to hold the difficult pass. And another chance was wasted when possession was kicked away inside the Esher 22.

So Esher became the first side to achieve the double over Sedgley Park this season and, as a result, leapfrog over them in the table.

SEDGLEY PARK: Bullough, Naylor, Hassan, Scales (Morris); de Jager (Glynn), McCormack; Alcock, Keys (Treco), Thomas; Arnold, Stockdale; Senior, Yates, Fourie (Roberts).

Tomorrow Sedgley entertain relegation-threatened Launceston at Park Lane.