SEDGLEY Park assistant coach Steve Hazzelby hailed an ‘incredible’ team performance as the Tigers snatched a late win at Stourbridge to leapfrog their hosts in National Two North.

A Mark Goodman try two minutes from time, and a successful conversion by Steve Collins, sealed a 28-25 victory on the road after an epic battle between two teams looking to be in the hunt for promotion come the end of the season.

That third try, added to a brace from Jamie Harrison, meant Sedgley bounced back from the previous weekend’s home reverse against Tynedale and maintained their unbeaten record on the road this campaign after other wins at Preston Grasshoppers and Huddersfield.

And Hazzelby could not praise the team effort enough post match.

He told the club’s website: “They were third in the league and two points above us and results at their ground in recent seasons have always gone their way, so we knew that we were in for a hard afternoon.

“Stourbridge started the stronger and had scored a try within the first five minutes, followed eight minutes later with a penalty.

“However, a well-taken penalty from Steve Collins kept us in touch at 8-3 down.

“The game was hard and uncompromising with both teams testing each other’s defences and unfortunately for us, they went further ahead after 20 minutes with a converted try after we had a clearance kick charged down.

“However, we hit back two minutes later with a beautifully-worked try for flying winger Jamie Harrison and two lovely penalties for Steve Collins just before the interval to reduce the deficit to just a single point – 15-14 at half time.

“The second half was just as hard and exciting as the first with both teams playing good rugby.

“Stourbridge scored first with a converted try after two minutes but we struck back with another great try for Jamie, his second, converted by Steve to put us right back in the game at 22-21 down.

“Stourbridge extended their lead with a penalty after 60 minutes but the day belonged to the Tigers with a great try for man-of-the-match Mark Goodman after wonderful driving play from the forwards.

“Steve converted and the boys had pulled off a great 28-25 victory and a well-deserved four points.

“Make no mistake this was an incredible performance from the whole squad from numbers 1-20 – it was brilliant.”

The win puts Sedgley back in third place, five points behind leaders Caldy who have won five out of five at the start of the season.

They are four behind second-placed Fylde going into this weekend’s home clash against Hinckley, who have made an inauspicious start to their campaign, losing three from five.

Nevertheless, Hazzelby expects a tough test.

He added: “It will be a hard game and we know that we will have to be at our best to take the points.”