SEDGLEY PARK beat Preston Grasshoppers by three tries to two, each side converting one in a very tense and somewhat disappointing game of rugby.

This was the first time that Sedgley had ever beaten Preston in a League match and it was a game of two halves.

All Preston for the first 40 minutes, all Sedgley for the second forty.

Sedgley were 7-0 down at half time to a try from Michael Lough converted by Paul Bailey, made from a poor touch kick which didn't find the line and the Preston No. 4, Josh Williams, ran through the Park defence to make the space for Lough to score.

In the face of mounting Preston pressure, Sedgley's defence held firm but with only three or four incursions into Preston territory, Preston should have done better but could not capitalise on their superiority as they dropped the ball far too often.

Sedgley opened well in the second period, but a poor clearance led to the visitors kicking upfield for winger Monaghan, who hacked on and Lough scored his second.

Sedgley were now 12-0 down with 25 minutes left when they came to life and pressed and harried Grasshoppers until Tim Fury broke from the base of the scrum and Rob Moon worked his magic with a fly kick which he collected, scored the try and converted.

Four minutes later, Dave McCormack fielded a clearance, Rob Moon again turned on the style by beating three defenders to put Paul Morris in for a 60 yard try.

Into injury time at 12 each and Mike Wilcox on the right wing scored the winner past Tim Fury, and Rob Moon worked the ball across the field as the Preston defence tired.

17-12 just about reflected the play, Sedgley's commitment in the second half made them just the better side.

Coach Tim Fury's said: ''The game lasts for 80 minutes and our boys knew that. They refused to be beaten and deserved to win, even though we were not at our best.''

In two weeks' time Sedgley entertain top of the table Plymouth which will certainly be a harder game than today.

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