SEDGLEY IN A CRACKER

A PERFECT winter's day may not have produced a great rugby match, but there was no lack of excitement for the large contingent of Sedgley supporters who saw their team snatch the points with an injury-time drop-goal.

A much changed Sedgeley side included prop Huw Thomas, making his long awaited debut, and former captain Rob Smith at scrum-half; the lively Leon Treco started the game at hooker, a change from his familiar bench role, but most significantly Colin Stephens returned at stand-off, allowing Rob Moon to drop back to full-back.

Stephens was quick to make an impression, dropping a goal in the 4th minute after centre Jon Scales had made the crucial yards.

Flyde drew level through a Ben Godfrey penalty and then took the lead when a sloppy Sedgeley pass on half-way fell into Flyde hands and the speedy left wing Godfrey was sent racing in at the corner.

Stephens kept Sedgeley in the game with a good penalty from 42 metres but Flyde went further ahead when Kenyon chased his own kick and brilliantly palmed the ball back to supporting players. The ball was quickly transferred left, Godfrey straightened the line, and stand-off Martin Wallwork looped outside him to score. Sedgeley were trailing 6-13 and looking short of ideas against opponents who tackled well in all areas of the pitch, though Scales once again broke away following a quickly taken tap and might have scored after a run of 60 metres. Half-time was approaching when Stephens reduced the arrears with a simple penalty but a brain-less piece of play presented Flyde's Godfrey with an easy three points, so Sedgley trailed 9-13 at the interval.

After 15 minutes Sedgeley scored the decisive try. A line-out was won, with some difficulty, and the ball was driven towards the posts. Quick ruck ball and play was switched back left where Stephens accelerated through a little gap to score a well worked try which he himself converted to level the scores.

Sedgeley were beginning to play! A box-kick by Smith, followed by a diagonal one form Stephens led to a line-out from which Richard Senior came within inches of scoring. Then it was the turn of Flyde full-back Kenyon who put up a towering kick which which he chased and caught himself to have Sedgley back-pedalling, resulting, eventually in an easy penalty kicked by replacement Steve Gough.

So once again Sedgeley trailed but the afternoon was to belong to Colin Stephens. A magnificent penalty from 40 metres soared over with plenty to spare and, at the death, from a solid scrum on the 22 the Welsh magician dropped the match-winning goal.

SEDGELEY PARK: Moon, Wilcock, Hassan, Scales, Morris, Stephens, Smith, Alcock (Latham), Treco, Thomas, Arnold, Rees, Senior, Yates, Fourie.

Meanwhile, Wharfedale were inflicting upon Plymouth their first defeat of the season. And visitors to Park Lane this Saturday? Wharfedale. Another good game in prospect.