Sedgley Park edged closer to promotion from National Two North with an impressive 38-14 home victory at Huddersfield last weekend.

The Tigers are now 12 points clear at the top with three matches left to play - second-placed Fylde with a game in hand.

But all Sedgley can do is focus on their own job in hand and they did just that against a Huddersfield side the had beaten 38-26 in a physical reverse fixture in November.

It was also a special day for the club with their third charity game of the season in aid of breast cancer.

The hosts started strongly, keeping possession well and building phases in their half.

A penalty gave them a lineout on their five-metre line, which the forwards drove over giving hooker Adam Mallinson the touch down inside the first two minutes.

This was followed five minutes later with another lineout in the opposition 22 which was again driven by the forwards for Mallinson to grab his second try. Steve Collins added the conversion to make it 12-0 with most of the first half to go.

Sedgley were playing intelligent rugby with tempo and momentum, and looked as if they could go on and score more tries before the break but it was not to be as Huddersfield showed their strength and grit in defence and managed to stifle most attacks.

The half finished 12-0 and the Tigers knew they would have to be patient, disciplined and go deep into phase play to go on and get the win.

After the interval, a good passage of play deep in the visitors’ 22 in the 50th minute saw the ball moved quickly right for full-back Andy Riley to touch down in the top right-hand corner and extend the lead to 17-0.

Three minutes later, a box kick by the Huddersfield scrum-half was collected by Riley, who chipped over, regained the ball and ran 40 metres to outstrip the cover defence and touch down in the right-hand corner. Collins added the conversion to make it 24-0 up with the four-try bonus point secured.

Sedgley were looking to stretch the Huddersfield defence at every opportunity and a great line break by Riley took the play on to their line. And from the ensuing ruck, Mallinson picked up and dived over giving him his hat-trick. Collins added his third conversion to take the scoeline to 31-0 going into the last 20 minutes.

Huddersfield, to their credit, hit back with a well-worked catch-and-drive try from their forwards to reduce the lead, and then in the 75th minute got a second try after a miss-tackle on the Sedgley line.

However, probably the best try of the afternoon came right at the end of the game for the Tigers. An incisive break by debut winger Alex Wills saw the ball moved through two pairs of hands for full-back Riley to touch down for his hat-trick and seal the win.

Coach Steve Hazzelby said: “This was a hard, physical uncompromising encounter with all credit to the squad of players that faced up to the task.

“We have three games left, starting with an away trip to Sheffield on Saturday where another good performance is needed in our quest for victory.”