Lowthian pounces to see off Preston

By LUKE MADEIRA

Sedgley Park 15

Preston G ……….3

SEDGLEY Park edged out Preston Grasshoppers in a tight game, with tries from Matthew Riley and Samuel Lowthion proving to be enough for the impressive hosts.

The match started slowly with both sides continually knocking on in attacking positions.

The only try of the half came on 31 minutes after a driving maul pushed Sedgley into the 22, before Matthew Riley crashed through the middle of the defence to go under the post, Stephen Collins converting from the tee.

On the stroke of half time, Sedgley prop Benjamin Black saw yellow for cynically kicking the ball out of the back of the ruck with Preston metres from the try line.

Collins kicked a penalty in the opening minutes of the second half to extend the Sedgley lead to 10-0, before Thomas Davidson replied with a penalty for the visitors, leaving Preston needing only one score to get back in the game.

The game was put beyond doubt with six minutes left. A hanging box kick from Sedgley scrum-half Callum McShane put Preston winger Tyler Spence in all kinds of trouble.

Spence slipped as he went to catch the ball, allowing Samuel Lowthion to pick up the loose ball and sprint 50 metres to touch down in the corner.