SEDGLEY Park maintained their 100-per-cent winning record at the top of National Two North with a convincing 39-7 win against struggling Harrogate last Saturday.

It was a win that gave coach Steve Hazzelby the opportunity to shuffle his pack and give important game time to several squad members.

He said: “Harrogate have had a difficult season with only two wins and we had beaten them quite convincingly at their ground back in September.

“Despite this we were taking nothing for granted but it did give us the opportunity to give more game time to a number of young bench players.

“Conditions on the day were poor with a heavy wet pitch and a driving wind but this was a solid performance from the whole squad and it was pleasing that everyone had precious game time going into what will be a difficult run of games in the next seven weeks.

“Credit goes to Harrogate who never gave up and are in the middle of building a team with their many young players.”

Hosts Sedgley started strongly and the first try came in the 18th minute after tighthead prop, Beltus Nonleh, burst over the line after good phases in their 22. Oli Glasse added the conversion and kicked a penalty shortly afterwards as the Tigers pressured Harrogate at every opportunity.

A turnover ball on halfway was fed to second row Connor James who in turn fed left winger Jamie Harrison, who raced 45 metres to touch down under the posts.Glasse added the conversion to maker it 17-0 going into the last 15 minutes of the half.

Six minutes later, a scrum 10 metres out saw the ball go through five pairs of hands for right winger Rhys Henderson to touch down in the corner.

Harrogate did score a well-worked try after a powerful catch-and-drive by their big forwards but Sedgley went into the interval 22-7 up and looking to go on and get the bonus point in the second half.

They started the second period well playing down the hill and it was not long before constant pressure on the visitors’ line by the hosts’ forwards saw hooker Danny Maher drive over to give Sedgley a fourth try and the bonus point.

This was followed 10 minutes later with a score for new centre Joe Bedlow, who drove through two tackles after good phases within the Harrogate five-metre line.

The home side were 32-7 up going into the last quarter and there was no way back for the visitors.

The final score of the afternoon, and one of the best, came after fly-half Steve Collins gathered a clearance kick 60 metres out, ran back beating two defenders to feed full-back Andy Riley, who raced through to score on the left. Collins added the conversion to round off the scoring.

Next up for Tigers on Saturday is a trip to third-placed Hull Ionians in a clash Hazzelby says will test his side.

He added: “Saturday will be the biggest test so far with an away trip to Hull Ionians. We beat them narrowly 18-10 in October and they only just lost 20-15 last Saturday at second-placed Fylde.

“We will prepare well in training and know that our best performance is needed if we are to maintain the unbeaten run.”