Sedgley Park... 32pts Newbury... 24pts: IN PERFECT conditions for running rugby, Sedgley Park began where they had left off at Harrogate, leading 25 - 7 at the end of an irresistible first half.

The second half was less than inspiring as Newbury managed to upset the team's composure, but Sedgley did hang on to win - deservedly so.

A bright start by the home side was rewarded with a Colin Stephens penalty goal after four minutes, but Sedgley then lost possession on their own twenty-two and a perfect kick to the corner by Newbury stand-off Joe Czerpak forced a five-metre scrum from which Number 8 Craig Davies scored and full-back Ian Morgan converted.

Sedgley were not behind for long. Paul Rees won a good line-out and the ball was driven on by Leon Treco and Huw Thomas before being spun out wide. Carlos Hassan, Colin Stephens and Kern Yates provided the link before Jon Scales forced his way over against typically gritty Newbury defending. Stephens added the conversion and, two minutes later, a penalty goal.

Better was to come, as a weak Newbury clearance was gathered by Dave McCormack. The Sedgley scrum-half fed Mike Wilcock on the burst and the supporting Ross Bullough just had the legs and the strength to make the line.

Wilcock, playing so well at full-back, now produced a run of brilliance, leaving at least half a dozen would-be defenders grasping thin air. He was finally tackled just short of the line, but the supporting Tim Fourie scored the try which Stephens converted.

A Newbury mistake, a horrible speculative pass, was gratefully intercepted by Bullough for his fourth try in two matches since his return to the side, and Stephens added the easy conversion to stretch the lead to 32 - 7.

Play became even more scrappy, with little scuffles off the ball a commonplace. One such exchange resulted in the departure of Rod Latham to the sin-bin. He had been limping badly from the early stages and was probably glad to be off.

Sedgley's game had lost all shape, but Newbury were getting stronger. Moments later, following a penalty, Davies scored again and Morgan added the touchline conversion.

Sedgley were beginning to pass wildly, attempting to run bad ball, and Newbury scored again when a dropped pass was hacked on by Czerpak who won the race to the line. Again Morgan converted.

The scuffles continued. Sedgley were on the attack when play was stopped for a fight 50 metres behind play. A lengthy consultation between officials resulted in a yellow card for Newbury replacement hooker Brad Gill and a red one for Sedgley's Sion O'Hare. Morgan kicked the resulting penalty.

If Newbury flanker Dave Thorpe had not unaccountably lost the ball over Sedgley's line, the closing stages would have been tense indeed, but Sedgley's excellent first half had provided enough of a cushion.

TEAM: Wilcock; Bullough, Hassan, Scales, O'Hare; Stephens, McCormack; Latham; (Roberts), Treco (Keyes), Thomas; Arnold, Rees; Senior (Grainey), Yates, Fourie.