Sedgley Tigers recorded their seventh win in seven league games on Saturday as they fought their way to a 37-28 victory over Harrogate in National League Two North.

Tigers’ manager Geoff Roberts said: “It was a battling performance.

“They’ve got a very good record at home. I think they’ve won five of the last seven or eight. They are a side that really play expansive rugby and you’ve got to be very aware that they are going to take quick tap penalties.

“We couldn’t quite get away from them. The way the scoring went, it was a real tight affair.

“At 30-28 we got two players sin-binned so we had 13 against their 15 for 10 minutes, but we weathered that storm and I think that was the crucial part of the game.”

Steve Collins opened the scoring for the Tigers with a penalty in the fourth minute but Joe Rowntree restored parity with a penalty for the hosts.

Another penalty from Rowntree gave Harrogate a 6-3 lead in the 12th minute, only for Collins to score his second penalty of the afternoon three minutes later to level the scores.

Johnny Mathews scored the first try of the game for Sedgley following great line out work from Louis McGowan. Collins missed the conversion but the Tigers had the lead at 11-6.

Gate kept up the pressure on the visitors and were rewarded with another Rowntree penalty, which reduced the arrears to 11-9 in the 29th minute.

A rampaging run from Matt Lamprey saw the number eight go over for the Tigers’ second try, with Collins adding the extras to extend Sedgley’s lead to 18-9.

But back came Harrogate again with Robert Adair going over for their first try of the game. Rowntree added the extras to make it 18-16 to Sedgley at half time.

The home side were punished for not taking their chances early in the second period, when Jamie Harrison picked up a loose ball to run the full length of the pitch and score a try. Collins converted to give the visitors a 25-16 lead.

Once again Harrogate responded, denying Sedgley any time on the ball and were rewarded when Samuel Bottomley went over for a try and Rowntree again added the extras to claw the score back to 25-23.

However, another mistake from the home side saw winger Andy Riley score for the bonus point try.

But with Matt Riley and George Hymes both sin binned in quick succession on 60 and 63 minutes, Harrogate capitalised with an unconverted try to take the score to 30-28 and set up a nervous final quarter.

Even down to 13 men the Tigers threatened to increase their lead and did so through Johnny Lamprey with Collins again converting to secure the win.

The 37-28 success means the Tigers are now situated just two points from third place and Geoff said: “It’s a nice position to be in, just behind it all.

“We play Dudley next week, who are currently bottom of the table. It’s at home, and as long as we keep switched on we should come through that one. “Then we have two tough games leading up to Christmas – away at Birmingham, who’s form seems a bit patchy – and then Preston, which is our derby, so form goes out of the window for that one.”