SEDGLEY PARK...50 Pts
WHARFEDALE...24 Pts
IT takes two to tango they say, and with Wharfedale as committed as Sedgley to playing the open game, the result was a wonderful afternoon's entertainment.
There were nine tries and some breathtaking running and handling, and some hard and skilful forward play too.
At Fylde the previous week, Colin Stephens had scored all Sedgley's 22 points. Here, in the first 17 minutes, he had 13 from a try and conversion, and two penalties.
Wharfedale had been in Sedgley's half only at the kick-offs and might have been even further behind after a Mike Wilcock try had been disallowed for earlier foul play.
Then Wharfedale did get hold of the ball and very quickly demonstrated just how good they were.
Sedgley were stretched, but, from a scrum near his own line, Tim Fourie broke away with Kern Yates and Rob Smith in support to gain 50 metres. More good play by a very sharp-looking Sedgley, and Stephens popped over a drop-goal to advance the lead to 16-0.
Wharfedale continued to impress, creaking a little in the scrums, but doing well at line-out and driving maul.
Above all, they ran and handled and ran, and on the half-hour they pulled back seven points when a brilliant pass by number eight, Russell Buckroyd, put winger George Smithson in at the corner. Full-back Jonathan Davies converted.
Ironically, it was a rare dropped ball by the visitors that led to Sedgley's next try. Paul Arnold, once again hugely impressive in the pack, gained possession, Stephens launched the attack and Rob Moon somehow evaded four would-be tacklers to score at the posts. Stephens converted, but Davies kicked a penalty for Wharfedale just before half-time, when Sedgley led 23-10.
Down the slope, now, Wharfedale immediately attacked. Sedgley centre, Carlos Hassan, brought off a try-saving tackle, covering back, but to no avail. From their next possession, Wharfedale centre, David Whitfield, crashed over the Davies to convert and reduce Sedgley's lead to a precarious six points.
The omens didn't look good for Park. With the lion's share of possession, Wharfedale were looking the more likely team -- until Sedgley scored a superb try, full-back Moon squeezing in at the corner after some great handling. Stephens, striking the ball as well as humanly possible, converted with a majestic kick.
Each side then gave away a soft try. From a line-out, lovely quick ball, Wharfedale sent lock David Lister hurtling towards the posts. A great move, but where was Sedgley's defence? Not where it was needed anyway, and the conversion cut the lead to six points again; 30-24. But wing, Paul Morris, was presented with a try from an interception and Sedgley were never again in danger, as it turned out. A quickly taken tap-penalty and more swift and accurate handling, gave Wilcock a chance to go hard and low into the corner. The sin-binning of Wharfedale's Lister was a shame, given the open nature of the game, and moments later Stephens put Sedgley further ahead with a simple penalty. The Yorkshiremen were finally beaten.
The game's final act belonged, fittingly, to Stephens. Wharfedale were attacking on Sedgley's 22, but he gambled on the interception and, chased all the way by Wharfedale skipper, Andy Hodgson, he had just enough petrol left to make the line; and a little more to kick the goal, bringing up 50 for Sedgley and 30 points for himself.
Next Saturday, December 22, Sedgley are away at Waterloo and away again the following week at Newbury. The next home First XV's fixture is on January 5.
SEDGLEY PARK: Moon, Wilcock, Scales, Hassan, Morris, Stephens, Smith, Alcock, (Latham), Treco, Thomas, Arnold, Rees, Senior, Yates, Fourie.
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