THIS should have been a really good game, involving two equally matched and talented teams, playing in conditions conducive to running rugby.

And the first ten minutes were good.

Sedgley settled the quicker and were soon putting the Winnington line under pressure.

Ball retention was good and the team was prepared to give it width, but the passing lacked precision and chances were not taken.

Instead, it was the Cheshire boys who scored a good try from their first real attack.

A Sedgley clearance kick was gathered on the half-way line and some good running and handling resulted in a try for the visitors' talented full-back.

If Winnington Park had the bigger and quicker players behind the scrum, Sedgley's forwards were much more together as a unit, apart from the scrums which were not going well for the home team.

The pressure mounted, defenders were sucked in, and centre Adam Cheshire scored a well worked try halfway out on the left.

The game became increasingly untidy and the score remained at 5-5 until half-time.

Sedgley now faced the breeze and might have been expected to struggle.

Play deteriorated even more before Sedgley scored a soft try from a tap-penalty, captain Andrew Dauncey running straight through the middle of the Winningtonpack; Axel Spencer-Anforth converted.

The visitors had the better of the remaining period.

Unable to clear their lines, Sedgley found themselves under continual pressure, but their desire to win was shown by some outstanding tackling.

In the dying seconds the full-back again sliced through, and the supporting player should have scored, but in trying to get near the posts he ran into a tackle from Richard Newman and dropped the ball.