Schofield’s confident Sedgley will kick on

Sedgley Park .... 76pts Luctonians .......... 35pts

SEDGLEY PARK head coach Dean Schofield’s confidence in his side is sky high after a 12-try demolition of Luctonians.

Hooker Jonathan Matthews crossed the line five times for the hosts who remain unbeaten.

The result was just what Schofield asked for.

He said: “It was a fresh game for us after the previous two draws.

“We really needed to steady the ship and what a response. We’ve had a cracking day. The sun was out and it looked like the lads enjoyed themselves out there.

“We are in a good place. I’m very, very confident with this side and I’m just happy for them. The performance quashes any self doubt, any negativity. We’ve shown we can play if we get our set piece right.”

The visitors were on the back foot from the outset.

Two yellow cards in the opening minutes for winger Will Hodnett and prop Joe White allowed the Tigers to cross the line three times in their absence.

Matthews touched down for the first score following a driving maul. A carbon copy for No8. Juan Crous was followed by a scything run from fly-half Steve Collins from inside his own half, neatly offloading to wingman Jamie Harrison for the score. Collins converted all three tries to give the hosts a 21-point advantage.

A swift move along the backs allowed Lucs to narrow the gap, Charlie Grimes going over wide on the left.

Direct running from Sedgley flanker Max Skofic on the half hour saw him stop just short, keeping the ball alive lock Shaun Needham powered over.

The visitors hit straight back, again swift hands allowing full-back Joe Doyle to create the overlap for the score, Louis Silver’s conversion taking the score to 26-14.

Any hope for a Luctonians resurgence was shortlived as the hosts ran in two quick-fire tries on the stroke of half-time.

Matthews popping up again to squeeze in under the posts followed by flanker Alex Powell whose powerful running saw him cross the line leaving it 40-14 at the break.

The Tigers forged further ahead after the restart with tries from Matthews and winger Sam Lowthion showing his pace down the right flank.

The visitors were allowed some space midway through the half and three tries in ten minutes from Grimes, Matthew Hackley and Jorn Shroeder countered by one Sedgley score from scrumhalf Callum McShane gave them a bonus point and some respectability at 55-35.

But the hosts reasserted their authority with more scores from Matthews reinstated to the wing and a final flourish at the death from full-back Rob Holloway.

Lucs’ director of rugby Alex Davidson blamed the early sin bins.

He said: “I think the two yellow cards early on killed it. They ran in three tries in that time and that was pretty much it.”