GEOFF Roberts insists his Sedgley Tigers side can deal with the pressure of being the early front-runners in the National League Division Two North title race, believing they have the character to handle being top of the table.

The Park Lane outfit have won all of their league fixtures so far this season, but were made to fight for a 53-28 home victory against second-from-bottom Luctonians on Saturday.

The Tigers' powerful second half display clinched a fifth successive bonus point win and moved the Park Lane outfit five points clear.

And the coach admits the Tigers - who are the only team left in the league with an 100 per cent record - must continue to cope with sides upping the tempo against them.

"Everybody wants to have a real crack at us at the moment," Roberts told The Guide.

"Suddenly we are the team to beat and everybody wants to be the team that does it.

"When you play the top teams it is always a special day and every player is focused.

"That is happening to us now and we have to expect it.

"Teams are coming out of the blocks early hoping they can catch us out and knock us off our perch.

"But the unity in the squad is exceptional. I'm chuffed with how we are playing and I believe we have a team capable of coping with the pressure."

Two penalties from centre Geraint Langdon had given Luctonians an early 6-0 lead in a tight first half at Park Lane.

But two tries from full-back Andy Riley, either side of another Langdon penalty, put the Tigers 14-9 in front with Steve Collins converting both efforts.

Back came Luctonians with Langdon scoring a try and conversion, before Collins hit back with a 25th minute penalty to give the Tigers a slender 17-16 lead at the break.

However a four-try blitz in a 14-minute spell in the second half extended the Tigers lead to 46-16 with wide man Jamie Harrison going over twice and Shaun Manley and Riley also nipping in. Collins kicked the extras.

Tom Bedlow's harsh yellow card for a high tackle enabled Luctonians to fightback to 46-28 with a converted try from replacement Rhyan Scott-Young and another effort by Jimmy Norris.

But Harrison's third try four minutes from time, which was converted by Rhodri Carlton Jones, sealed the victory for the Tigers.

"Luctonians threw everything at us in the first half and you have to applaud them for that," said Roberts.

"They defended like mad and were difficult to break down but all their hard work eventually took its toll.

"We were patient, bided our time and in the end we made it count."

The Tigers travel to fifth-placed Sandal on Saturday looking to capitalise on the newcomers' first defeat of the season at Huddersfield last time out.

"We haven't played them in the league for about 15 years so we are looking forward to it," said Roberts.

"At one point the fixture looked like it would be a first against second encounter. That's not the case now but we still have to be on our guard.

"Sandal play expansive rugby and although they haven't scored a tremendous amount of tries, they have got one of the best defences in the league.

"We are trying to build up a decent lead at the top of the table because when we do eventually take a hit we will need to have a good points barrier to stay there."