Sedgley Park coach Steve Hazzelby was pleased his side avoided defeat for the first time in 2024 despite having to settle for a share of the spoils in a 24-24 draw against Rosslyn Park in National League One.

The Londoners had beaten the Tigers fairly convincingly at their ground earlier in the season and they sat one place above Sedgley in the league.

They remain in the same spot after three points apiece at Park Lane on Saturday.

Hazzelby said: “They had recently performed well against the top teams so we knew this would be a really hard game, especially as we had not played for two weeks because of the poor weather.

“We had trained well all week and had set ourselves the targets of keeping the penalty count down and coming away with points every time we entered their 22.

“We both got three points and it was probably the right result from two very even sides.

“We were disappointed we could not manage to get the win but pleased we had performed well and achieved some of the original goals.

“We remain in sixth place with Rosslyn Park in fifth but there are only a few points between us.”

On home soil, the Tigers started well, keeping possession and building phase within their opponents’ half, and a sharp line break by full-back Charlie Wardle saw winger Rhys Henderson come off his wing to touch down in the bottom left-hand corner after five minutes.

Rosslyn Park responded and their first try came after 20 minutes with a powerful drive from their forwards to see them take the lead 7-5.

And they followed this up eight minutes later with a second score after a 70-metre breakout from their 22 to go into half time 12-5 ahead and looking threatening every time they got the ball.

The hosts had done well to keep the penalty count down, but knew they had to be patient and get points every time they got in Rosslyn Park’s 22.

And they started the second half well, varying play between forwards and backs and building tempo.

A good passage of play resulted in prop Ozzie Downham crashing over in the top right-hand corner, and fly-half Warren Seals added the conversion to level the scores after 52 minutes.

However, the visitors hit back almost immediately with a well-worked try for their centre in the bottom left-hand corner to retake the lead going into the last 20 minutes.

It was a really good game of rugby for the neutral with two well-matched teams giving nothing away.

Sedgley then made a number of changes which proved significant.

A beautiful line break by substitute number eight, Tom Ailes, from 40 metres out saw scrum-half, Jacob Tansey, dive over near the posts. Seals added the conversion as the home side retook the lead 19-17 on 60 minutes.

The Tigers looked to push on and build a lead, and a lineout on halfway was fed wide for inspirational captain Matt Riley break the line and feed centre Nathan Pope, who scored a fourth and bonus-point try to make it 24-17 going into the last eight minutes.

Rosslyn Park, to their credit, hit back with their fourth and bonus-point try with two minutes to go and the game ended 24-24 with honours even.

This Saturday, the Tigers are on the road to league leaders Chinnor in a rearranged clash.

They beat them earlier in the season at Park Lane, but know it will be a huge challenge and a top performance will be required if they are to come away with points again.