TETLEY BITTER CUP -- ROUND TWO

SEDGLEY pulled out a plum when they drew big boys Bedford away in the next round after this fine victory.

It was a performance to savour as Sedgley played out of their skins from the first minute to the 80th, from full-back Rob Moon to young prop Gareth Roberts, who faced a mighty opponent in Richard Harryman and never gave an inch.

Play was even for the first 20 minutes, with Mike Scott kicking two penalties for the visitors, Colin Stephens two for Sedgley. Kendal base their game around a strong and disciplined pack of forwards behind which classy stand-off Casey Mee releases a set of hard and straight-running backs. Sedgley were their equal, man-for-man, from the start. The big boys, Chris Raducanu, Richard Senior and Tim Fourie had already dented the Kendal defence before Sedgley created the first clear scoring opportunity. Moon fielded a deep kick, combined with flanker Kern Yates, Fourie broke a tackle in mid-field, wing Chris Kinsey was tackled just short.

Almost at once Kendal too had a chance. Centre Ian Voortman broke clear on a long run. Sedgley stopped him but at the expense of a penalty which put Kendal back in the lead. Some fine fluent rugby by the home side then led to a similar chance for Stephens and the teams were locked at nine-all at the end of an entertaining first half.

Wing Elijah Sobanjo's exciting run got the second half off to a good start for Sedgley who spent five minutes pressing near the Kendal line, before a poor pass from the base of a ruck allowed the visitors to clear their lines. Then it was Sedgley's turn to defend as Kendal produced their best rugby of the game as right wing Jason Balmer almost got clear away. Sedgley survived a short period of pressure, helped by a touch of fortune when a Scott penalty rebounded from a post, and gradually the Whitefield lads began to get on top. A great run by impressive centre John Scales, a little dart from scrum-half Dave McCormack, and Scales was over in the corner -- forward pass, no try. Then, after 20 minutes, the decisive try did come. Under pressure, Kendal cleared weakly. Moon fielded the ball, beat five would-be tacklers in a run of 20-metres, and Young scored in the right corner.

Playing catch-up, Kendal twice tried to run the ball out of defence, and twice they were cut down by human Exocets in the form of McCormack and Scales. Yes, for the first time this season a fired-up Sedgley team was on show. In particular, Tim Fourie was playing easily his most impressive game, and it was a run by the number eight that led to a final penalty for Colin Stephens, the little Welshman who had been tormenting Kendal with his tactical kicking, so difficult to cope with in slippery conditions.

So Sedgley led by eight points with just 12 minutes on the clock. Kendal attacked strongly but Sedgley held on with some comfort. The task of overcoming Bedford will be many times greater but, after this display, the dream is at least alive. By coincidence, this Saturday Sedgley travel to Bedford to take on the less famous Bedford Athletic in a League fixture; chance to atone for a woeful performance there last season.