Nuneaton 11, Sedgley Park 17

THE temperature on the pitch was in the nineties, but by the end the sweat on the brows of the Sedgley faithful was from nervous tension.

Park won this game three tries to one, but Nuneaton held the lead for the last 30 minutes until two-and-half minutes into injury time, when victory was deservedly snatched from the home side.

Sedgley started with confidence knowing they had a strong side, and with the return of Paul Morris on the right wing and the strength of Andy Kimmins in the second row, Kevin Carter made his debut at prop and hopes were high on the back of the win at Aspairia.

The anticipation was not misplaced for with eight minutes gone the Whitefield XV were ahead with captain Christian Radacanu, the Rumanian international, taking his practised line-out ball and a tremendous driving maul brought a try on the left wing.

More Sedgley pressure and from a free kick in the centre of the field the ball went right from Rob Smith to Radacanu. A half break to Rob Moon, out to winger Paul Morris who drew the defence and inside to Mike Wilcock, up in the line from full-back, and a glorious, classic try.

Sedgley's tails were up and it was just a question of how many! Then came the change for up to that point in the game Nuneaton had hardly seen the ball, but for the next 67 minutes it would be Sedgley on the defensive without possession and stretched throughout.

So far this season the defence has been magnificent and it needed to be. Rob Smith retired hurt to be replaced by new man Chris Kinsey but suffering 21 penalties, five line-outs lost and some knock-ons, ball possession was as scarce as snow in the blazing heat.

Two penalties to Nuneaton and it was 10-6 to Sedgley at half-time but the home side's grip on possession yielded a good try to give them the lead, 11-10, with 30 minutes remaining

Still Sedgley defended, and defended well, and with more speed kept the Nuns at bay.

Full-time came and went as Nuneaton knocked-on 15 yards from the Sedgley line.

A scrum, Kinsey a good pass to Rob Moon who beat his opposite number and made 20 yards; on to Mike Wilcox who made 30 yards; out to Paul Morris who beat his winger and the despairing full back and ran 50 yards to score under the posts, converted by Rob Moon. 17-11 and the final whistle!

When Sedgley have the ball they are existing, but they need more possession which hopefully will be the case against Walsall tomorrow at Park Lane, kick-off 3pm for the first home match of this season, althoug with four away points on the board.

Walsall have recruited well, it will be a hard game and one not to be missed.

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