SEDGLEY Tigers coach Geoff Roberts rued his side's luck after they missed a late try-scoring opportunity to crash to a shock defeat at struggling Luctonians on Saturday.

With Max Ashford unavailable and several key players including Richard Wainwright and George Hymes missing through injury, the depleted Park Lane outfit lost 23-19, despite clawing their way back from 17-0 down in the opening quarter to close to within a point of the relegation-threatened side with minutes remaining.

However a late chance went begging as the Tigers' three-match winning run came to an end.

"It was one of those days where we just did not get off the bus and yet we could have won it right at the end," Roberts told the Bury Times.

"We thought we had scored a try with the last play of the game. One of our guys went down and reached for the line but just lost control of the ball on the try line.

"If that chance had gone over we would have won the game and gained a bonus point as it was our fourth try.

"It's a shame we couldn't get a result because the other teams around us all lost so we would have been right up there touching third place," he said.

Daniel Smith's try on four minutes gave Luctonians an early lead.

Louis Silver added the conversion and a penalty two minutes later as the hosts took control at 10-0.

Jimmy Norris' try on 12 minutes, which was again converted by Silver, extended the lead to 17-0 with 13 minutes played.

The Tigers hit back with Andy Riley scoring their first points of the game with a try on 29 minutes.

The conversion was kicked by brother Matt, who also went over for a try two minutes later, as the Tigers narrowed the gap to 17-12 at half time.

Silver's penalty on 58 minutes looked to have put the game out of reach but Oliver Parkinson's try and another conversion by Matt Riley saw the Tigers close the gap to just one point at 20-19 with 10 minutes remaining.

However, Silver's third penalty of the afternoon secured the points for the league strugglers as the Tigers squandered a late opportunity.

"It was an onslaught in the opening minutes and we just could not get to grips with them," said Roberts.

"We were continually on the back foot, absorbing it all. They chucked everything at it and they did well.

"Once we got through that first period they only scored a further six points in the whole of the game, whereas we scored 19.

"We were expecting a tough game as they are fighting for their lives in the relegation zone.

"They put in a good performance at Ampthill last week, but it was still disappointing to lose," he said.

With Rhys Davies suffering a suspected broken collarbone and Callum McShane also breaking a finger at Luctonians, Roberts is hoping a game-free Saturday this weekend will give the Tigers time to recharge their batteries ready for a final push on third place in National League Two North at home to Stourbridge in a fortnight's time.

"We've got a few blank weekends coming up in the coming weeks as the league soaks up the dates allocated for re-arranged fixtures," said Roberts.

"As we haven't had any games off due to bad weather we've got some holiday.

"We're going to let the players have a rest and repair this week. And hopefully we can get ourselves ready for a final push on third place."