Sedgley Tigers RUFC v Coventry RUFC

A late Tom Slater try saved the blue and white’s blushes with a 30-27 win over Sedgley Tigers on Saturday.

This win will give the team a vital boost going into a tough few weeks ahead, playing three of the top sides in the division in succession.

"It was a win gained in very dramatic style and it builds confidence which we have to take forward to the next game," said Head Coach Phil Maynard speaking to the Coventry Telegraph.

Coventry had to fight back after Sedgley Park took the initiative in the first half leading 14-9 at the break. A Tigers try was the difference in an even first 40 minutes, coming from a well worked move that was finished off by scrum half Chris Leck. Coventry’s Ronnie McLean kept them in the match with his boot however hitting the upright with an attempt that would have narrowed the deficit.

The north Manchester side then increased their lead to an eight point gap with a penalty by Matt Riley soon after the break. Coventry then began forcing the issue with ball in hand and they were rewarded a try after good work by McLean offloading to George Dixon who bustled his way to the line, McLean converting.

Sam Herrington then drove himself over to get his maiden try in a blue and white strip. The converted try put Coventry ahead 23-20, cancelling out the Tigers earlier penalty.

Then in the last ten minutes Sedgley looked to have taken the match with a converted try, as Pete Swatkins dived over in the corner.

However the Blue and White’s never gave in all game, and in overtime No. 8 Laurie McGlone burst through to set up Slater who sprinted under the post to snatch a vital win, much to the joy of the travelling supporters.

Maynard added: "It was poor, but you can only be as good as you're allowed to play and to be fair, Park stood up to be counted.

"At the end of the day, just to win here has to be a positive. We scrapped to the last play, and when you have got irrepressible players like young Tom and people like Laurie who will play to the end, you have always got a chance.”

Sedgley Park: tries Leck (26), Swatkins (71); conversion Riley (71); penalties Riley 5 (4, 13, 33, 42, 62).

Coventry: tries Dixon (49), Herrington (66), Slater (80); conversions McLean 3; penalties McLean 3 (12, 16, 19).

Sedgley Park: Riley; Swatkins, Hall, Tafa, Wilcock; Wilkinson, Leck; Gazzola (Evans 76), Roddam (Roberts 21), Du Plessis (Livesey 76), Fourie (Woods 64), Townson, Jones (Largan 80), Newton (Crous 59), Cook.

Coventry: Russell; McLean, Dixon, Winter (Montague 43), Parry; Dorrian, Slater; Whitehall, Whitehead (Pearl 51), Dugard, Herrington, Burgess, Venter, Clayton (Thomas 73), McGlone.

Referee: G Garner (RFU).

By Geoff Berkeley