SEDGLEY PARK 20, BRISTOL SHOGUNS 43: A FIVE minute lapse of concentration condemned the plucky Tigers to a third successive defeat in this, their inaugural National One season writes Peter Collins

Three tries in quick succession for the Shoguns, after Park had been leading, altered the game irrevocably and ensured victory for the former Premiership side and no points for Park.

Things started brightly Sedgley and they took the lead on seven minutes when Blair Feeney slotted over the first of two successful penalty kicks.

Both teams were using Park Lane's superb playing surface to play expansive rugby, but too often Park's passing let them down, with the ball either being knocked-on, dropped or spilled in the tackle.

Six minutes later Park were awarded a second penalty in exactly the same position - 20 metres out from the Shoguns' posts - and Feeney made it two-out-of-two to extend Park's lead to 6-0.

His opposite number Jason Strange reduced the deficit to 6-3 with a successful kick of his own before blowing the chance to put his side on equal terms when he missed a second.

At this point Feeney was definitely winning the 'battle of the boot,' with his kicking from hand for position winning valuable distance.

But on 22 minutes Bristol pressure paid off with a try aided and abetted by poor Sedgley tackling.

The visitors won a line-out 30 metres from the Park line and spun the ball from right to left.

It was then moved back into the middle where centre Sam Cox burst through three tackles from just 10 metres out to go over for the touchdown, which Strange converted to give Bristol a 10-6 lead.

Three minutes later Shoguns' winger Luke Nabaro, who had already showed how dangerous he could be with a couple of forceful runs, waltzed through the despairing arms of Ian Voortman and Ross Bullough before feeding centre Adam Billig for an easy trot to the line, with Strange again successful with the conversion to make it 17-6 to the visitors.

From the re-start Bristol returned Feeney's punt and then won a line-out 40 metres out from the Tigers ' line and drove the ball down the left before turning it inside, where skipper Matt Salter burst onto it to romp home from the Tigers' 22-metre line through poor Sedgley cover.

Strange popped his third consecutive conversion over to make it 24-6 to the visitors and completely change the complexion of the game.

On 33 minutes Park skipper Jimmy Ponton took a tap penalty and fed prop Huw Thomas who drove strongly down the middle, the ball was moved out to winger Richard Welding and he made valuable ground with another jinking run.

But a combination of poor passing and knock-ons wasted a valuable opportunity.

A Feeney kick for touch gave the forwards the platform they wanted and Erik Lund leapt to win a valuable line-out 10 metres out from the Bristol line, with further pressure resulting in a five-metre scrum.

The ball was then spun out to the wing where Welding again produced a forceful drive, but Voortman knocked on and another golden opportunity went begging.

It was obvious Ponton had had strong words with his team-mates in the Park changing room during the half-time break and the Tigers emerged for the second half intend on turning things around.

Strong runs from Welding and Gareth Roberts set-up good forward pressure, but it was squandered again.

Bristol should have gone further ahead on 51 minutes, but wing Marko Stanojevic knocked on with the try line beckoning.

But seven minutes later he made-up for his lapse and crashed through further weak Sedgley tackling to go over in the corner, with Strange's conversion making it 31-6 to the Shoguns.

After good work from the forwards, notably Fourie and Lund, Park continued to press forward, but Nabaro intercepted a pass only to knock-on.

The home forwards continued to pressure and it was eventually rewarded in the 70th minute.

A three-man overlap on the left allowed Welding to go over for Sedgley's first try of the game, improved by Feeney's boot.

But two minutes later Park were again punished for sloppy play when replacement centre Jon Pritchard went over for an unconverted try.

Park refused to give in and an impressive move which saw the ball moved the width of the pitch from right to left resulted in fullback Jon Feeley going in at the corner. Feeley again supplied the conversion to add some respectability to the scoreline at 20-39.

However, the Shoguns had not finished and with a minute to go Nabaro burst through yet another tackle 10 metres out to feed Billig, who in turn sent fullback Sean Marsden over for the easiest of touchdowns, which Danny Gray converted.