Sedgley Park’s winless run in National One continued with a 27-12 home defeat to Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.

And coach Steve Hazzelby admitted it was no more than they deserved on a day when their display was disappointing on home soil.

He said: “This was a very disappointing performance - our accuracy and physicality on the day was not good and our work rate was below its usual standard.

“However one poor game does not make us a bad side and these are all things that can be worked and improved on.”

The visitors from Hertfordshire had also had a sluggish start to the campaign but were a big, physical side who like to drive the play through their forwards.

The early exchanges were even, but it was the Tigers who had the first opportunity to put points on the board. A great line-break by captain Matt Riley deep in the visitors’ 22 was off-loaded to fellow centre Matt Law, who had the line in at his mercy. However, he was unable to hold on to the ball, the visitors cleared their line and the chance had gone.

Then, seven minutes later, they were awarded a penalty in the hosts’ 22 from which they scored through a catch-and-drive from the forwards.

The Tigers responded with some good driving play linking forwards and backs, but lost possession on a number of occasions when they should have converted it into points.

Bishop scored their second try on the 30-minute mark with another catch-and-drive from the forwards to put them 12-0 in the lead going into the last 10 minutes of the half. They extended the lead with a penalty and Sedgley went into the break 15-0 down after a disappointing half of rugby.

The Tigers were confident they could get back into the game playing with the wind in the second half but knew they would have to look after the ball and be more accurate in their execution.

However, it was the visitors who scored first in the half with a powerful driving try through the forwards to make it 22-0.

Sedgley had a bit of a revival and started to build momentum and tempo. A lovely passage of play saw the ball moved quickly to the left for winger Will Bradley to touch down in the corner.

Then, shortly after, strong driving play by the forwards deep in the visiting 22 saw flanker Lewis Bradley score a second try for the hosts.

Fly-half Charlie Wardle converted and the home side were back in the game with 15 minutes to play.

Sedgley continued to pressure the visitors’ defences, but each time they were repelled and it seemed every time they gained possession, they gave it away almost immediately.

Bishop, to their credit, scored their fourth and bonus-point try after another catch-and-drive by the forwards to register a well-deserved win.

Next Saturday the Tigers travel to Birmingham to play Moseley which will be another hard game against a well-drilled side.

But Hazzelby is staying upbeat. He said: “We have to be positive because we know we are capable of coming away with the points.”