Sedgley Park...33

Harrogate...27

A LOVELY day, a perfect pitch and two good sides intent on playing open rugby. The result was a wonderfully competitive and entertaining match, the best of the season so far.

There was no settling down period. The game was played at a ahectic pace from the start and Sedgley got their noses in front with a fine try after just five minutes.

Following a good drive by the pack, scrum half Dave Mc Cormack made an opening with Kern Yates in support before the ball was swiftly moved to the left where winger Paul Morris rounded off the move with an outstanding finish from 40 metres.

Harrogate showed they could play a bit too and Sedgley were indebted to two good tackles by full back Rob Moon on centre Sarjeant and by Morris on winger Farrar for keeping their line intact.

Sedgley increased their lead with a Colin Stephens penalty and then another good try. The home team's scrum was going backwards, but number eight Tim Fourie tidied up at the base, providing good ball for the backs.

Moon made the break and right winger Mike Wilcock raced behind the posts. The easy conversion gave Sedgley a 15-0 lead midway through the first half.

Good attacking play by Park -- with the defence just as impressive -- could not prevent Harrogate stand off Lee Cholewa making a clean break for a try which he converted.

The second quarter of the game was dominated by the visitors as the Sedgley pack began to struggle.

It came as no surprise when Harrogate flanker Worden broke through on the burst and good ball retention led to a walk-in try for his back row colleague Dudley, a mobile, man-mountain of a player.

The conversion made it 15-14 at half-time and Sedgley, playing into a strong breeze in the second half, did not appear favourites at this stage. If the first half had been good, the second half was sensational. Stephens and Cholewa kicked a penalty apiece before a try put Sedgley further ahead.

Cristian Raducanu had just come on to the field and he achieved a wonderful line-out catch before McCormack and Yates worked a neat little move and big Paul Arnold got the try.

After some discussion between the officials, the conversion was ruled to have missed, a significant decision with the margin just six points.

A break by centre Jon Scales gave Sedgley the field position for their next try. A penalty was kicked to the corner and, from the line-out, Raducabu forced his way over.

Five minutes later came the try of the season so far. Morris and Moon combined to give centre Carlos Hassan a chance to run and he made 70 metres before finding Raducanu in support.

The Romanian was tackled just short of the line, the ball was lost and Harrogate ran it back through countless pairs of hands for a 100-metre try, scored in the corner by scrum half Shackleton.

So the margin was back to to six points again, but again Sedgley stretched away with a try, this time Moon showing good physical strength to force his way over in the corner.

Harrogate would simply not lie down and when Sedgley lost possession on their own 22, the visitors moved the ball wide for winger Farrar to outpace the cover.

Finally it was all over and the win had put Sedgley into second place in the table.

SEDGLEY PARK: Moon, Wilcock, Hassan, Scales, Morris, Stephens, McCormack, Latham (Alcock), Keyes (Treco), Johnson, Arnold, Rees (Raducanu), Senior, Yates, Fourie.

Segley entertain Coventry at Park Lane tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) in what should be a mouthwatering cup clash.