ASSISTANT coach Steve Hazzelby hailed Sedgley Park’s best performance of the season as they swept aside Otley to make it three straight National Two North victories.

The Tigers were 47-19 winners at Park Lane, meaning they sit third in the standings ahead of travelling to Sheffield Tigers on Saturday, a place and four points below them in the table.

“It was without doubt the best overall performance of the season so far from the whole squad from one to 20,” Hazzelby told the club website.

“There was tempo, pace and energy from the first minute to the last.

“In recent weeks we had performed well in the first half but had dropped off in the second, allowing teams to get back in the game.

“This was not the case against a team where past results had always been close.

“We now have to build on it, starting with another big challenge at fourth-placed Sheffield Tigers.”

Against Otley, Sedgley ran in seven tries, four coming in the first half.

Oli Glasse got two of them with Adam Cheshire, Jamie Harrison, Matthew Gallagher and replacements James Harper and Daniel Openshaw also touching down. Steve Collins kicked six conversions.

“We started very well with a great score from centre Oli Glasse after lovely wide play from the backs,” said Hazzelby.

“This was followed two minutes later with a second try for Oli after a great penetrating run from full-back Leon Simpson.

“We had a 14-0 lead after six minutes but Otley came back strongly with a well-taken try for their outside centre after good inter-play with backs and forwards.

“At this point we were playing some wonderful controlled rugby with the forwards driving hard and creating a great platform for our backs to launch their strike plays.

“This was rewarded with a fabulous try for winger Adam Cheshire after a pin-point chip from our fly-half, Steve Collins, who added the conversion.

“Then eight minutes later there was a 50-yard score for winger Jamie Harrison after a great off-load by hooker Matt Gallagher meaning the bonus point had been secured by half-time. The second half was just as impressive as the first, though, with another three tries, the first one from hooker Matt Gallagher after a great catch and drive from the forwards.

“This was followed with a powerful try for young prop James Harper after super inter-play between the backs.

“Steve added the conversion to put us in a commanding 40-5 lead going into the last 15 minutes.

“To their credit, Otley did test our defences at this point and did get two more converted tries but it was our day with Danny Openshaw scoring after a sensational 50-metre run from man-of-the-match Leon Simpson.”