RFU National League Two: Sedgley Park...20pts, Waterloo...20pts

THERE was a distinct end-of-season feel to this game. Waterloo are doomed to relegation, while Sedgley are assured of third place in the league, but with only pride to play for, it was the Liverpool side who wanted the victory more.

Sedgley began well enough. Colin Stephens kicked an early penalty, and good play by Tim Fourie and Paul Rees led to another one, which the Welshman hooked wide.

Moments later, smooth handling by the Sedgley backs ended with Mike Wilcock putting Ross Bullough in for a try which was not converted.

It all looked so easy, but midway through the half the balance of power began to change.

Full-back Jan van Deventer kicked a penalty for the visitors who, now, began to apply pressure.

Excellent defence has been a feature of Sedgley's game all season but now Waterloo stand-off Rob Hitchmough skipped through some weak tackling for a try which was converted, to put Waterloo 10-8 ahead.

Sedgley still looked dangerous with ball in hand and a good passage of play led to a Stephens penalty.

The home team then blew a golden try-scoring opportunity before another penalty, the last kick of the half, gave them a 14-10 advantage to take into the second half.

Sedgley had the advantage of the slope, too, but now proceeded to shoot themselves in the foot, not once, but three times.

First, Paul Arnold earned himself ten minutes in the sin-bin for a minor repeated offence.

Hardly had he served his time when Sedgley lost two more, winger Paul Morris following a trip and flanker Ian Grainey for preventing the taking of a tap-penalty.

It was hardly surprising that, with a two-man advantage, Waterloo scored the vital try.

Most of their play had been a 'route one' approach through their big pack, but now they worked a nice move in midfield for Deventer to score near the posts, a try which he himself converted.

Stephens levelled the scores with another penalty but depleted Sedgley were struggling in the scrums and almost fell behind again when Hitchmough just failed to reach his own chip to the line.

Back on level terms again, Sedgley looked well off the pace in the pack, though Tim Fourie and Leon Treco were shining exceptions.

The team had much the sharper backs, though, and a magical piece of play by Stephens opened up the Waterloo defence.

But this was a day when Sedgley support of the ball-carrier was often absent, leading to a spate of penalties for not releasing, as well as to attacking chances not taken.

An attack launched from Sedgley's own line, Paul Morris making most ground, led to Stephens' fifth penalty goal, a lovely strike from forty metres, and the team led 20-17 going into injury time.

Deventer missed from 23 metres in front of the posts and Sedgley thought they had escaped, but he was on target from much further out to earn his team a deserved draw.

Sedgley travel to rural Yorkshire to play Wharfedale this Saturday, and will hope to have rediscovered the enthusiasm that has made the team so successful this season.

SEDGLEY PARK: Wilcock; Bullough, Hassan, Scales, Morris; Stephens, McCormack; Latham, Treco, Thomas; Arnold, Rees (Keyes); Senior, Grainey, Fourie.