SEDGLEY Tigers continued their surge towards third place in National League Two North with a hard-fought victory at mid-table Huddersfield on Saturday.

In a nip-and-tuck game, the hosts, who have only lost three games at home all season, had threatened to make a late comeback but in the end a 20-point blitz at the start of the second half was enough for delighted Sedgley coach Geoff Roberts.

"I class it as being a really good win as I saw Huddersfield as being a bit of a sticky place to go," he told the Bury Times.

"They took Ampthill to a draw there, in fact only Hull Ionians and Birmingham have beaten them at their place this season.

"And you can see why when you play them. They are really tough to play against.

"They go for it all the way through the game so we couldn't afford to take our eye of the ball.

"They are a tough team to turn over so I'm pretty chuffed with the boys."

The Tigers scored the opening try through Andrew Riley after just three minutes.

Steve Collins kicked the conversion to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Joel Hinchcliffe and Collins traded penalties before Huddersfield levelled the scores at 10-10 through Thomas Hodson's try and a Hinchcliffe conversion.

But Collins' penalty on 28 minutes saw the Tigers regain the lead 13-10 before the break.

Four unconverted tries in a 20-minute blitz at the start of the second period put the Tigers firmly in control.

Jamie Harrison and Riley scored either side of a double from captain Juan Crous as the visitors led 33-10.

However, a lapse in concentration saw Huddersfield's Nicholas Rhodes and Nicholas Rawsthorne go over for tries in the last 10 minutes, which Hinchcliffe duly converted, but the Tigers held firm to win 33-24.

"There wasn't much in it in the first half," said Roberts.

"But in the first quarter after the break we definitely won it. We played well, put things together and got well in front.

"Really the win was more convincing than the scoreline showed.

"The game became a little more tense towards the end and we picked up a couple of injuries.

"We got a penalty in the last play of the game and all we needed to do was kick the ball out.

"But we went for another try and when Matt Riley failed to gather the ball they took advantage to score a late consolation right at the end."

Roberts was again pleased with the Park Lane outfit's overall performance but reserved praise for the individual displays of captain Juan Crous and, for the second week running, newcomer Mike Quickenden.

"It was an all-round team effort but I was particularly pleased with Juan, who played well, and newcomer Mike who is really finding his feet," he said.

"We gave them every respect they deserved a came away with the win."

With Otley and Chester both losing, the Park Lane outfit, who have a game-free Saturday this week, climbed a place to fourth in the league, just three points adrift of third-placed Caldy, who they host in their next on March 28, and Roberts is looking forward to the match up.

"It will be a good game and it is charity day at Park Lane, which will add a bit more spice to the fixture," he said.