PLYMOUTH ALBION...34pts

SEDGLEY PARK...13pts

PROMOTED Sedgley now know the standard required to play in National League Division Two. They will be concerned that their front five came a poor second to the men from Devon. Fitness levels also need to be improved.

It all began promisingly. Up the steep slope, Sedgley scored first through a Colin Stephens penalty goal, while his opposite number, Tom Barlow, was twice off target. Plymouth were kicking away possession and Sedgley were under little threat during the first 15 minutes.

Plymouth's first serious attack was a prolonged driving maul, slow and powerful, which took play 30 metres towards the Sedgley line. This was met by excellent defence until, from a line-out five metres out, home flanker, Daniel Ward-Smith, was driven over and Barlow converted with a fine kick.

Stephens replied with a towering drop-goal attempt. This hit the cross-bar and bounced out, to be re-gathered by hooker, Paul Keyes. A couple of quick passes and winger, Paul Morris, was almost in for a try. No matter -- Plymouth were penalised and Stephens kicked the simple penalty.

Barlow extended Plymouth's lead to four points with a similarly easy kick but Sedgley could be satisfied with a 6-10 score-line and half-time a mere minutes away.

But now Sedgley lost a scrum against the head just outside their own 22, and stand-off Barlow scored in the corner, a try which he himself converted. Then disaster really struck. Centre, John Scales, produced an excellent run, supported by Mike Wilcock and Cristian Raducanu. A try beckoned, but unfortunately for Sedgley, it was at the wrong end as home winger, Richard Thompson, intercepted and ran the length of the field to score. Barlow's conversion made it 24-6 at half-time. Sedgley now had the advantage of the considerable slope, but would their out-gunned pack be able to provide the necessary possession? The answer, sadly, was no. Although play was mainly confined to the Plymouth half, Sedgley posed little attacking threat until the dying moments of the game.

Mid-way through the half, Barlow increased Plymouth's lead with another penalty, moments after Wilcock had crossed between the posts, but apparently had knocked on. With five minutes to go, Wilcock did score a good try, line-out possession leading to some expansive play by the backs.

Stephens converted with a fine kick but Plymouth underlined their superiority with a fourth try, once against created by their powerful pack and once again scored by the impressive Barlow. Scrum-half, Phil Williams, converted and Sedgley had a long, long journey home.

Another long journey for Sedgley on Saturday and another tough match expected as they take on famous London club, Rosslyn Park.

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