Collins is on hand to celebrate in style
THIS may have been an an encounter between high-scoring sides.
But it proved to be the opposite of the anticipated tryfest as Sedgley Park ran out winners over Bournville in a scrappy encounter.
Yet it was still a special day for Steve Collins on his 200th appearance for The Tigers as he landed a penalty and a conversion to help seal the success.
In persistent wind and rain, the first 20 minutes consisted more than the normal handling errors.
The highest points scorers in the league, Bournville, were reduced to two penalties in the game, both in the first half and converted by Bournville’s head coach and fly-half Mitch McGahan.
Indeed, the visitors started and finished the scoring in the first half as the home side responded with a 33rd-minute Jacob Tansey try which was converted by Collins.
Although the score was 7-6 at half-time, it was the home team who had the best of the territory even if the possession was a little more even.
The Tigers started
the second half with a more dynamic approach, moving the ball around quickly.
Collins extended the lead by converting a penalty in the 44th minute.
Shortly afterwards, full-back Andy Riley
broke free down the left and, with 50 minutes on the clock, the Tigers led by nine.
Ten minutes later Rhys Henderson increased the lead to 14 when Collins kicked through and the winger grabbed the ball on the right and drove over the tryline.
The final 15 minutes were all pressure from the away team and they were camped in the home team’s twenty-two.
But Sedge held steadfast as Bournville were passing and driving back and forth on the 5m line.
The home team conceded a number of penalties as they tried to withstand the onslaught which resulted in three yellows being produced by referee Llyr ApGeraint-Roberts and finished the game with 12 men.