SEDGLEY Tigers coach Geoff Roberts was again left to rue missed opportunities as his side crashed to their third successive defeat at Harrogate on Saturday.

In similar fashion to recent losses against Hull Ionians and Chester, the Park Lane outfit opened the scoring and led 16-10 at half-time but faltered in the second period, crashing to a 21-19 defeat, as the hosts leapfrogged the Tigers into fifth place in National League Division Two North.

With five wins and four defeats from their opening nine games of the season, the sixth-placed Tigers are now 15 points behind joint leaders Ampthill and Hull Ionians, and Roberts admitted his frustration at his side’s finishing which has seen them lose pace with the promotion chasers.

“We dominated the game, had the majority of the possession and chances but again we failed to win,” said Roberts.

“We are building attacks but for some reason something just breaks down and it is getting a bit frustrating.

“This time last year we had a lot of five-pointers and we were scraping wins in games like this, but this year we are just not tidying things up or getting ourselves over the line and it’s costing us.”

Two penalties from Steve Collins gave the Tigers a 6-0 lead after 17 minutes against Harrogate but the hosts fought back with a try and conversion from Callum Irvine and a penalty from Joseph Rowntree to lead 10-6 on the half hour mark.

Benjamin Reaveley and Kerry Wood were both sinbinned for the hosts during the first period and the Tigers took advantage with a try and a conversion from Crous and a third penalty from Collins as the Tigers led 16-10 at the break.

Rowntree starred for the hosts early in the second half scoring a try and a penalty as Harrogate led 18-16 before Collins’ penalty on 60 minutes looked to have won the game for the Tigers.

However another Rowntree penalty four minutes from time condemned the Tigers to their third defeat in as many games.

With hooker Liam West and back row Billy Emerson back in contention following suspensions, the Tigers coach is hoping his side’s luck will change when they entertain Luctonians on Saturday.

“We are hoping to get the show on the road, get a bit of a run going,” said Roberts.