SEDGLEY Tigers cut the gap to National Division Two North leaders Macclesfield to 10 points after battling to a rare victory away to Tynedale.

Coach Geoff Thomas praised his side’s resilient rear-guard action as Steve Collins kicked five penalties to earn a 15-13 victory.

The win, secured under the floodlights at Newcastle Falcons’ stadium after Tynedale were forced to switch the match due to flooding at their own ground, ended a run of two straight defeats for the Tigers.

And the result was made all the sweeter after Macclesfield’s game at Preston Grasshoppers was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

“Over the last 15 years I think we have spent around eight seasons in the same division as Tynedale and I can’t remember winning up there,” said Roberts.

“I would guess it must have been in the 1990s, the last time we won away at Tynedale.

“So it is obviously a difficult place to go and we have to be pleased to have come away with the win.

“It went right down to the last play of the match, which lasted for nearly four minutes as Tynedale kept the ball, but they couldn’t get through.

“It went on phase after phase, tackle after tackle but our lads refused to buckle.

“We were glad to hear the final whistle, though.

“I was important to get back to winning ways and hopefully now, after cutting the gap to Macclesfield to 10 points, we can build up some momentum, string some more victories together and chase them down.”

Conditions again made life difficult for the Tigers, who were drawn into what Roberts described as a “kicking contest” following heavy rain in the North East.

“It absolutely threw it down, especially in the second half. So while the game was played on a superb pitch, the ball was like a bar of soap,” he said.

Tigers never relinquished the lead after scoring four early penalties through the boot of Collins.

Tynedale reduced the arrears to just two points after breaking a tackle near the end of the first half to add a converted try to an earlier penalty.

But Collins kicked over again to make it 15-10 at half time.

The home side came out strongly after the break and added a penalty of their own before a player from each side was sent off for fighting.

Tight head prop Ben Black was shown his marching orders for Sedgley for what Roberts described as retaliation.

“There were about 10 players involved and it was hard to see exactly what Ben did,” he said.

“Our captain, Juan Crous, was clearly punched about three times when on the floor.

“There will be a disciplinary this week to decide Ben’s punishment, and hopefully any video evidence will work in his favour.

“If that is inconclusive then they will go with the match referee’s verdict, which means he could be suspended for up to four weeks as he has been sent off before, although that was eight years ago.”

It is likely Black will be missing for Sedgley’s match at home to sixth-placed Otley this weekend, whatever the outcome of the disciplinary.