Rugby: Sedgley crush Scousers

IT was a horrible day, cold and windy, but Sedgley Park delighted their travelling supporters with a fine display of controlled rugby football.

Former giants Liverpool St Helens tried hard, but while they plodded, Sedgley sparkled, with the back row and the whole back division showing a pace and invention the home team could not match.

With the gale at their backs, LSH actually scored first with a penalty goal for a line-out offence kicked by full-back Paul Cumming, but once Sedgley had worked out that the long miss-pass was not a sensible option in these conditions, there seemed to be only one possible winner.

Team rugby of a high standard took play from one end to the other as Steve Byford won a scrum against the head and more controlled play brought a try for flanker Adam Smith.

Despite the wind disadvantage, Sedgley were dominating the half and more lovely rugby, forwards and backs in combination, put centre Sion O'Hare through a gap. A try seemed certain but he was caught and help up over the line. No matter, moments later Sedgley were awarded a penalty, the ball was moved quickly to the left and Elijah Sobanjo scored with ease. Rob Smith's conversion attempt hit an upright.

Number eight Jon Duncan, in superb form all season, and relatively new stand-off Stuart Langley were providing the necessary creativity, repeatedly cutting holes in the LSH defence.

And it was a magic piece of play by Langley and full-back Mike Wilcock that set up the next scoring chance though this time Sedgley had to settle for the three points of a Rob Smith penalty.

A break by Duncan eventually led to a try for right-winger Chris Kinsey who did well, for although not being the biggest of men he barged his way over in the corner.

It was 15-3 at half-time, though Sobanjo had come within a whisker of scoring in the dying moments of the first half, being cut down by a superb Cumming tackle.

But Sobanjo began the second half with another elusive run, this time rewarded with a try by flanker Yern Yates which Rob Smith converted.

A long kick down-wind to the corner by stand-off Langley gave LSH a line-out which they messed up, to the benefit of try-scorer Duncan. Smith's conversion hit the cross-bar but bounced over it and at 32-3, only seven minutes into the half, Sedgley were out of sight. By now it was almost dark and very cold though the wind had dropped and LSH finally got their hands on the ball and were able to keep it for most of the remaining time.

Sedgley defended well with some characteristic big hits by Andy Kimmins and LSH lacked the skill or pace to break through.

When Sedgley got the ball the whole game lifted in pace and a long fly-kick downfield by O'Hare eventually led to Kinsey's second try, an excellent one in which the winger beat two men in a touch-line dash.

Then it was back to defence again as LSH attempted their route-one way to the line and Sedgley had soaked up almost 20 minutes continuous pressure before they broke out to score - twice!

A break by Langley presented Kinsey with his third try, which Rob Smith converted, and from the kick-off centre Paul Morris underlined Sedgley's superiority behind the scrum by simply running through half the Liverpool team to score near the posts.

A successful kick would have secured a rare half-century away from home but for the third time, Smith hit the woodwork.

This Saturday Sedgley Park are at home to Kendal in what could be one of the best games of the season.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.