SEDGLEY Park coach Steve Hazzelby praised his team after a 29-25 victory over Wharfedale put them back in second place in National League Two North.

The Tigers went into the game looking to bounce back from defeat a week earlier and despite a victory in Yorkshire earlier in the campaign, knew Wharfedale would not let them have it all their own way.

But they battles hard and snatched victory late on thanks to a converted try from hooker Matt Gallagher.

Hazzelby said: “We knew that this would be a hard game especially after the disappointment of the previous Saturday.

“But such is the spirit and determination of this group of players that we snatched victory after a wonderful team effort and are back to second in the league.

“This coming Saturday we are at home again against Sheffield Tigers and we know that a better performance is needed if we are to take the points.”

Last weekend, it was a special day for winger Jamie Harrison in his 200th game for the club and he and his team-mates started the game strongly, keeping possession and putting good pressure on Wharfedale’s defence.

However, Sedgley gave three penalties away in the space of five minutes and it was the visitors who scored first after a missed tackle in the centre of the field.

The early exchanges were scrappy but Sedgley got back in the game with a well-executed try for winger Harrison after lovely handling by the backs.

Their second try quickly followed after Harrison collected a high kick, broke infield to feed centre Oli Glasse who in turn passed to Andy Riley and he off-loaded to scrum-half Danny Openshaw who touched down under the posts. Steve Collins added the conversion.

The Tigers suffered a blow when they lost tighthead prop Ben Black with a hamstring strain and a penalty deep in their 22, followed by a forward drive, saw Wharfedale score wide out on the left.

The conversion from the touch line saw the visitors go into half time 14-12 in the lead.

The hosts played down the hill in the second half and Gallagher scored a third try wide on the left after a quick tap penalty from Danny Openshaw, and the conversion from Collins made it 19-14.

Wharfedale scored a third then a Collins penalty made it 22 apiece.

A penalty for the visitors then made it 25-22 in a topsy-turvy clash before Gallagher’s late score on 82 minutes sealed the points for the Tigers.

Saturday’s home game against Sheffield Tigers is a special charity day and fans are encouraged to attend Park Lane to support Sedgley both on and off the field.