The irrepressible Sedgley Tigers made it 12 wins from 12 in National Two North on home soil last Saturday with a 47-17 win against promoted Sheffield RUFC.

And with rivals Fylde dropping a bonus point, it cemented Sedgley’s spot at the top of the table.

The hosts started strongly with a well-worked try for hooker Cash Chilvers after a powerful catch-and-drive lineout from the forwards. Steve Collins added the conversion and they were 7-0 up within the first 15 minutes.

Sedgley went further ahead nine minutes later with a second score for Cash after another lineout catch-and-drive from the forwards. Collins added his second conversion to make it 14-0 up as the Tigers played high-tempo, direct rugby within the visitors’ half.

Their set-piece scrum was solid, lineouts accurate and the energy and physicality in defence was excellent.

Sheffield are a well-organised, skilful team who like to play open wide rugby from any area of the pitch and they hit back with an excellent score after their left winger came into the line from the blind side and touched down under the posts, putting them back in the game at 14-7 going into the last 15 minutes of the half.

However, the Tigers hit back almost immediately with a brilliant individual try for right winger Rhys Henderson, who collected a turnover ball 50 metres out and beat four defenders to touch down under the posts. Collins added his third conversion to further extend the lead before Sheffield again responded with a good try of their own after their scrum-half collected a great off-load from their powerful number eight and sprinted 45 metres to score on the bottom right.

Then, going into the last five minutes of the half, a sharp line break by Collins saw the ball worked swiftly left for winger Jamie Harrison to touch down in the corner to make it. 26-12 to the Tigers at the interval and the bonus point was secured.

Sedgley coaches were obviously pleased with the first-half performance but knew that the players had to do the same in the second period.

They started well, playing controlled, driving rugby within the Sheffield half and were rewarded with a fifth try for big prop Beltus Nonleh, who took an off-load from Collins and drove through three defenders to touch down near the posts. Collins added his fourth conversion and the visitors were now playing catch-up rugby at 33-12 down.

Despite their efforts to get back in the game by running from all areas of the pitch, it was not to be Sheffield’s day.

Two more tries for the Tigers, one for full-back Andy Riley and another for hooker Cash - his hat-trick - was a bridge too far for Sheffield.

They did manage to get a third try late on but the day but it was just a consolation.

Tigers coach Steve Hazzelby said: “They [Sheffield] were lying just below mid-table but had some notable performances against a number of the top teams so we knew we would have to be at the top of our game if we were to maintain the unbeaten run.

“Seven tries, the bonus point secured and the 12 out of 12 cementing our top spot, especially as nearest rivals Fylde dropped another bonus point.”