SEDGLEY Tigers were left licking their wounds after succumbing to their second defeat of the season at Leicester Lions on Saturday, with coach Geoff Roberts believing the weather did little to help their cause.

Three Steve Collins penalties had given the Tigers a 9-0 first half lead at a rain-soaked Westleigh but the Lions roared back with 10 points in the second period to steal the victory.

The 10-9 reverse means the Park Lane outfit's reign at the top of National League Two North is over, although they are just three points behind new leaders Macclesfield having picked up a losing bonus point.

Roberts was left to rue poor conditions and some bad luck during the tightly-fought encounter.

"It was a day where we couldn't really play rugby," he said.

"It was very wet and the ball was greasy so anything tried in open play tended to break down for both sides.

"Instead we played the territory game, which we did well because they didn't really come out of their half at all in the first half.

"We had three successful shots at goal and on another occasion we had a very shootable penalty.

"But we opted to go for the corner and try to score, which in the end didn't work.

"We were also denied a try when Ben Lloyd scored near the posts but the referee was unsighted by other players and was unable to give it.

"It was near the sticks so it would have been an easy seven-pointer.

"And if we had kicked the other penalty chance we would have had an 10 extra points which would have won us the game."

With Mike Waywell missing with an ankle injury and Matt Lamprey on the bench after picking up a slight knock, a well-organised first half saw the Tigers take a 3-0 lead with a Collins penalty inside two minutes.

The confident Park Lane pack dominated proceedings with Collins, Matt Riley and Rhodri Carlton-Jones snuffing out any early danger.

And when the number 10 kicked further efforts on 30 and 37 minutes, the Tigers were well in control at 9-0 at the break.

Sedgley held strong as the Lions threw everything at them at the start of the second half.

But when tight-head prop Ben Black suffered a shoulder injury, the Tigers were forced to rejig.

With the balance of the visiting pack disrupted, the Lions took advantage.

Winger Devon Constant bundled a try over the line on 57 minutes, and Jonathan Williams added the conversion to reduce the arrears to 9-7.

The Tigers continued to thwart the Lions' attack but with 18 minutes remaining a Williams penalty gave the hosts a 10-9 lead.

Tigers substitute Harri Greville and team-mate James Lloyd were both sinbinned late on, along with Lions outside centre Luke Veebel, while Darren Dean received a harsh red card, but despite the late drama the Tigers were unable to claim anything more than a losing bonus point from the game.

"They came out all guns blazing in the second half," said Roberts.

"They had more territory and they went for it.

"We had opportunities but play kept breaking down before we could get to the line.

"It was just one of those days where we couldn't take our chances and it all got a little bit scrappy in the end."

The Tigers have a game-free weekend this Saturday before taking on struggling Huddersfield at Park Lane on November 7.

"We've got a timely break now which is good because we've got a few knocks and bruises which need a bit of rest and repair," said Roberts.

"Then we can look to go again in the second part of the first half of the season."