RFU NATIONAL LEAGUE THREE (NORTH)

Sedgley Park 57pts

Nuneaton 3

NUNEATON have begun their league campaign well, but on Saturday they were completely out-played by a sharp and hungry-looking Sedgley team.

One minute into the game, Nuneaton were penalised. Dave McCormack took a quick tap just outside his own 22, Cris Raducanu made the break and Richard Senior was in support and scored; Colin Stephens converted. This set the tone for what was to follow.

Following that early score, the next 20 minutes were untidy, during which time Warwick Masser kicked a penalty for the visitors and Stephens landed one for Sedgley.

A clumsy high tackle by Nuneaton full-back Jody Peacock resulted in a sin-binning and sparked a burst of scoring by Sedgley.

A moment of rare skill from South African Tim Fourie, when he picked up a nasty rolling ball, was followed by a penalty which Stephens kicked to the corner. Steve Byford, as usual, found Raducanu with the throw, the forwards drove, then released to the backs and centre John Scales scored; Stephens converted.

A penalty by Stephens was followed by another try.

Senior provided the muscle with a storming run down the middle and Mike Wilcock came off his wing to provide the pace and the try which, once again, was converted. Nuneaton had a good five minutes before the interval, but Sedgley turned round with a 27-3 lead. Rob Moon, outstanding at full-back, was prominent in the opening minutes of the second half. His first run came to nothing, but he then fielded a Nuneaton kick, broke diagonally towards the left touch-line and found Sion O'Hare in support. O'Hare, almost in touch, floated a pass inside to winger Paul Morris, who scored. Stephens failed to convert, but moments later he added a penalty following a tremendous run by number eight, Fourie.

At this stage, Sedgley were scoring every couple of minutes. Senior and Wilcock exchanged passes for the latter to score, then McCormack made a break through heavy traffic to send Wilcock streaking down the right touch-line. Scales was in support and scored; Stephens converted, 47-3 and almost half an hour left!

Stephens now limped off and was replaced by Chris Kinsey, while Dave Hartley was introduced into the back row as Richard Senior got a rest. It made little difference as by now Nuneaton were looking hopelessly demoralised and disorganised. The scoring did stop for a while, but the contest remained one-sided.

After 33 minutes, a period of pressure by the Sedgley pack resulted in a stroll-in try for Rob Moon, now at stand-off. A good run by O'Hare down the left touch-line then created the position for Andy Kimmins to win a line-out and for prop Gareth Roberts to score on the peel.

The two long trips north, to Aspatria and to Tynedale (Corbridge), will now be faced with confidence.

SEDGLEY PARK: R. Moon, M. Wilcock, J. Scales, S. O'Hare, P. Morris, C. Stephens, D. McCormack, M. Alcock, S. Byford, G. Roberts, A. Kimmins, C. Raducanu, R. Senior, K. Yates, T. Fourie. Subs: C. Kinsey, A. Losty, D. Hartley.