Tigers seal a slug-fest as Johnny hits treble

A JOHNNY Matthews hat-trick means Sedgley Park remain in the hunt for a top-four finish following a resilient win at home to South Leicester.

The East Midlands side threw everything at the Lancashire outfit in the final ten minutes, but were unable to get even a losing bonus point and returned home empty handed.

This was not a good day for open rugby, but in the end it was the power of the home pack and the ability to turn possession into points at the crucial moment that proved the difference between two otherwise well-matched sides.

Sedgley started off the better and from a penalty into touch from Danny Collins, the catch and drive got man-of-the-match Matthews over for the opening score after just seven minutes, Steve Collins adding the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

From the restart, Sedgley continued to pile on the pressure and from another penalty into touch Matthews was driven over from the line-out to claim his second, Collins again on hand with the extras.

The visitors went a man down when Adam Shaw was dispatched to the sin-bin but even though the hosts looked to take advantage, some solid defence by South kept the line intact and – taking the game deep into Sedge territory – managed to force a penalty, Ricky Aley slotting the three points to make it 14-3 at the interval.

In the second period, it was hooker Matthews again from a catch and drive who brought up his hat-trick, Collins successful with the conversion.

With Sedgley losing Shaun Needham to the sin-bin Leicester used the opportunity to force a penalty try, as the home side collapsed a scrum on their own line.

Aley hit the conversion and with ten minutes to go South Leicester tried to press home their advantage, but the home defence proved far too resolute.

“The conditions were pretty dire,” admitted Sedgley Park director of rugby Dean Schofield. “We knew it was going to be a bit of an arm wrestle but we defended well when we had too and it was good to get back to winning ways.

“Given that we were missing three key players Andy Riley, Richard Wainwright and Tom Bedlow in our back line, I was pleased with the way the players coming in adapted to the situation.”

The win moved Sedgley Park to within a point of Leicester Lions in fourth, while Stourbridge are two further ahead in third.

Wayne Marsden, South Leicester director of rugby, was understandably disappointed with the result, as Tynedale moved within two points in the league table, but was pleased with the performance of his side.

He said: “The conditions were far from ideal and when they took a 14-point lead after just 15 minutes we were really up against it. However full credit to all the players, they never gave up and perhaps with a little bit more luck we could have come away with something.”