Sedgley Park coach Steve Hazzelby says Saturday’s 35-30 home loss against Rotherham Titans was disheartening for the National One strugglers after a battling display he felt deserved more.

The visitors were a big, physical team lying third in the league with seven wins and only two losses, but despite the challenge, the Tigers performed admirably despite being defeated.

Hazzelby said: “It was another heartbreaking loss, though we did get two losing bonus points. It was so disappointing because we had performed so well for the majority of the game.

“However, we remain positive as we go into another huge challenge next Saturday when we are away to another top team Richmond, who remain unbeaten with nine wins and one draw.

“We have to maintain concentration for the whole 80 minutes and not give so many penalties away.

Against the Titans, Sedgley began well, playing rugby in the opponents’ half and pressuring their defence with hard, direct ball carries.

Despite this it was the visitors who scored first with a lovely line-break from their winger, who joined the line and touched down to give them a7- 0 lead within the first five minutes.

However, six minutes later the ball was moved quickly to Tigers winger Rhys Henderson, who beat two defenders and touched down in the bottom right-hand corner. And the hosts had a chance to take the lead shortly after with a penalty but could not convert it.

The game ebbed to and fro and a penalty gave the visitors a line-out in Sedgley’s 22 which they caught and drove over for their second try to extend their lead to 14-5 after 15 minutes.

Tigers were playing good rugby at this point and a drop-out kick by Rotherham was collected by number eight Tom Ailes, who made a great line-break from 50 metres out which was passed to full-back, Andy Riley, who touched down for their second try. Fly-half, Warren Seals, converted to make it 14-12 going into the last 20 minutes of the half.

A penalty from Seals six minutes later gave them the lead and they were now pressuring the visitors’ defences at every opportunity with a good kick-chase and hard direct ball carrying, especially from captain Matt Riley.

A penalty in the 38th minute gave them a lineout deep in Rotherham’s 22 which they caught and drove over with hooker Adam Mallinson touching down for Tigers’ third try.

Rotherham did get a penalty right at the end of the half but the hosts went into the break with a well-deserved 20-17 lead.

Sedgley started the second half well with good inter-play between forwards and backs and a lovely cross-kick from Seals was kicked on and collected by Henderson, who touched down for his second and the team’s fourth bonus-point try.

The hosts were now 10 points in front at 27-17 with most of the half to go, however Rotherham came back strongly and scored their third try after driving play by their forwards to reduce the lead to 27-22 after 50 minutes.

They backed this up four minutes later with a line-break which saw them run 40 metres to score their fourth try and give them the lead 29-27 going into the last 20 minutes.

Sedgley then gave a number of penalties away which enabled them to further extend their lead to 35-27 with 10 minutes to play.

The Tigers did get a penalty with the last play of the game, but it was too little, too late.