Sedgley Park clinched a first promotion in nearly two decades in superb style on home turf with a thumping 80-14 victory against Sheffield Tigers.

It means they will be plying their trade in National One next season, looking to test themselves at a higher level.

Last Saturday, it was a 23rd win out of 25 National Two North outings in what has been an incredible 2022/23 campaign for the Park Lane outfit - and a bumper crowd enjoyed their title-clinching performance in the clash of the Tigers.

The Tigers of Whitefield started off in blistering style and nearly had the game, and promotion, wrapped up in the first quarter.

Sedge’s captain, Matt Riley, opened the scoring in the first minute when he was released down the middle and 10 minutes later it was Andy Riley adding five points when a swift move across the five-metre line saw the full-back-turned-winger free on the left.

Two minutes later it was Matt Riley again, this time following a kick-through, to add five more.

And as the clocked ticked over to 20 minutes, Rhys Henderson piled over on the left.

But as it was getting comfortable for the home team, Sam Down intercepted a loose pass on 23 minutes and ran straight down the middle to put the visitors on the scoreboard, Mark Ireland with the easy extra two.

Sedge were not rattled, though, and managed to hit three more tries before the break. Joe Bedlow piled through the line, Danny Maher under the pack after a lineout and drive, and number eight, Tom Ailes, added the last of the half, ably supported by flanker George Bordill.

If Sheffield Tigers thought the hosts may have started to party early, those ideas were dispelled in the 41st minute as Jacob Tansey broke through next to the posts.

Matt Riley completed a hat-trick three minutes later and Valu Tané Bentley added another with 47 minutes on the clock. Matt Riley added a fourth in the 52nd minute when he broke down the middle.

Sheffield Tigers then had their best period of play and with two Sedge players sin-binned, Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Oscar Crowe, they took advantage after a lineout with a maul drive - winger Sam Wager dropping over and Ireland bagging the extra two.

However Sedgley Park were not relaxing, and winger Harrison weaved his way around the visitors’ defence to finish off the scoring on the left.

Park’s trusty fly-half Steve Collins kicked 10 out of the 12 conversions on offer, hitting the post with one of the unsuccessful attempts.

Sedgeley head to Otley on Saturday for their final league game wanting to wrap up the campaign with another win.

A coach-load of Tigers fans are making the journey to West Yorkshire and it should provide for a carnival atmosphere to what has been an outstanding season.

Sedgley Tigers: (15-9, 1-8) Glasse, A Riley, Bedlow, M Riley (c), Henderson, Collins, Tansey, Blanchard, Maher, Nonleh, Birtwell, Crowe, Goodman, Bordill, Ailes.

Replacements: Opoku-Fordjour, Mallinson, Black, Bentley, Harrison.