Powergen Cup first round

SEDGLEY Park crashed out of the Powergen Cup to add another disappointing chapter to this season's sorry story.

Park faced both wind and slope in the first half, but began with some nice, controlled rugby in the first few minutes.

Then, disaster. An attacking scrum was lost against the head, giving the initiative to Halifax for the first time and, with their first attack, they scored through centre Ben Anderson who wrong-footed the defence with a change of angle; Jamie Bloem converted.

Running the angles proved a feature of the Halifax game and, after 15 minutes, they broke through again, with centre Jeff Morley exploiting some poor defensive alignment to create a try for wing John Simpson. The conversion left Sedgley trailing 14-0.

Some hard, straight running brought Sedgley their first points, a Rob Moon penalty, but the team was looking predictable and slow. Slowness to the breakdown led to the next score as the home side grabbed possession on half-way and found touch with a long kick to the corner. The line-out was lost and some good play by Halifax eventually resulted in a dropped goal by full-back Bloem.

This line-out loss proved the first of five in succession on Sedgley's throw and, with all the ball, Halifax should have scored again before half-time, being let down by poor handling.

Within two minutes of the restart, Sedgley had reduced the arrears with an early Moon penalty goal. Then, after 14 minutes, flanker Kern Yates pounced on a loose ball on half-way. The possession was not wasted and a nicely controlled build-up, Park's best rugby of the afternoon, finally resulted in prop Matt Alcock scoring with a fair turn of speed from about 10 metres.

The conversion was missed, but at 11-17 and wind-assisted down the slope, Sedgley should have won from this point. However, the game now took a bizarre twist as both sides, in quick succession, did their best to lose.

Halifax were first to benefit, a soft interception try for winger Richard Thompson from a careless pass. But the home team now made a mess of receiving the restart and Dave McCormack scored after charging down a kick, and the margin was back to six points again.

Twenty-three minutes remained, and Sedgley attacked for most of that time, with Ross Bullough and the lively McCormack looking the most likely to break down a determined defence. It was a fine run by Bullough that took Sedgley deep into the Halifax 22. Sedgley won a scrum against the head and Halifax were penalised in front of the posts. With time almost gone, Sedgley opted for a scrum - only to lose it against the head - and seconds later the contest was over.

Sedgley will hope to rediscover their best form when they return to league action against Fylde this Saturday at Park Lane (kick-off 3pm).

SEDGLEY PARK: Wilcock; Bullough, Hassan, Scales, Naylor; Moon, McCormack; Alcock, Keys, Rudolph (Roberts); Arnold, Rees; Spence, Grainey (Yates), Fourie.