RFU National League Two - Sedgley Park...53pts Fylde...28pts - EARLY in the second half of this game Fylde were leading 28-10, their heavyweight pack had dominated and Sedgley looked out of sorts, out of contention.
But the final half hour was won 43-0, an amazing, thrilling reversal of fortunes and, perhaps, the turning point of Sedgleys season. It made for superb entertainment.
Given first use of breeze and slope, Fylde led 8-0 after seven minutes.
A wrong option from the kick-off had resulted in a first-minute penalty goal for Dave Wiseman and, such was their confidence even at this early stage, that when Fylde were awarded another penalty they kicked to the corner and flanker Carl Lavin scored from the line-out.
Another penalty goal soon followed and, after twenty minutes, a carbon-copy second try; this time number eight Dylan O'Grady was at the bottom of the heap of bodies.
Sedgley's backs had had little ball to play with, and no good ball at all, but now Park won a Fylde line-out and some good open play stretched the visitors defence until, eventually, Paul Arnold scored near the posts; Chris Glynn converted.
Five minutes before the interval Fylde scored their third try, flanker Andy Atkinson being driven over by prop Matt Filipo, and Wiseman converted. Glynn closed the gap with a penalty but Sedgley trailed 23-10 at half-time.
That margin soon increased to 18 points, somewhat unluckily, Sedgley thought, as the Fylde pack appeared to lose the ball forward before full-back Richard Kenyon sprinted 70 metres to score.
Sedgley's woes continued when Jon Scales lost the ball with the line at his mercy but the tide was about to turn.
Playing at number 10 in place of the injured Rob Moon, Carlos Hassan was proving a smooth link and now began to kick with telling effect, too.
From the position he gained, Tim Fourie and Kern Yates combined from the base of a scrum 10 metres out. Yates scored unopposed and Glynn added the simple conversion.
Chasing one of his own kicks, Hassan charged down Fyldes attempted clearance for another try and, suddenly, Sedgley were full of running and enthusiasm. Fyldes big boys looked out on their feet.
Great running, pace and power, led to another Glynn penalty and the deficit was down to three points.
Fylde's goalkicking had been less than impressive, with three different players used without much success, but now they missed a real sitter from in front of the posts, and Sedgleys tide was about to become a flood.
Paul Arnolds storming run was continued by Ian Spence; Scales, a dominant force in midfield now, made the opening and co-centre Jim Naylor scored.
Seconds later Sedgley got another try. Fylde made a mistake at the restart and, from the consequent scrum on half way, Mike Wilcock scored from Dave McCormacks intelligent kick. With Glynn converting both, Sedgley now led 39-28.
Fylde could now do no right. A silly pass by scrum-half Lawrence Condon presented Naylor with the softest of tries, and Glynn stroked over the difficult kick.
With the game out of reach, the visitors pack found a second wind and subjected Sedgley's line to prolonged pressure. All to no avail because Wilcock intercepted and, though not moving very freely, still managed to run 90 metres to score between the posts.
Out of the Powergen Cup, Sedgley now have a blank week to reassess and to build on that wonderful second half performance. Sedgley 2nd XV, no game last weekend, are away to Doncaster.
SEDGLEY PARK: Wilcock; Glynn, Naylor, Scales, Bullough; Hassan, McCormack; Rudolph (Roberts), Keys, Thomas; Arnold, Rees; Grainey (Spence), Yates, Fourie.
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