SEDGLEY Park continue to pile on the pressure at the top of National Two North after a fifth successive away-day success last Thursday.

In the rearranged game at Wharfedale, the Tigers were forced to battle hard but came out on top thanks to tries from Matt Riley (two), Jamie Harrison and Hallam Chapman, securing a 31-24 win.

The victory sent them top of the table above Sale FC prior to the leaders’ Saturday trip to Macclesfield.

And while things continue to go well for his side, general manager Geoff Roberts insists Sale remain favourites for the title.

Roberts told the Bury Times: “I still say Sale are in the driving seat.

“They have a game in hand on us and while we have done brilliantly, and have three home games left out of the four remaining, I think we will run out of games.

“You never know because this is a very tough league and you never get an easy ride.

“Look at our last two games against Otley and Wharfedale who are both down the bottom end but gave us really tough matches.

“We managed four tries last Thursday at Wharfedale and the previous week Sale only scored two.

“It shows how these games can be tricky.

“Thankfully for us, we only have one more away game and three at home so hopefully we can end on a high note and see where it takes us.”

The trip to Wharfedale went as Roberts expected with a tough battle in North Yorkshire.

The hosts went ahead on 10 minutes but Harrison crossed the whitewash four minutes later with the first of four successful Steve Collins conversions levelling the scores.

Riley’s first try put Sedgley 14-7 ahead five minutes later before they were pegged back again.

But Chapman’s try just before the half-hour mark gave them a 21-14 half-time lead.

A Wharfedale penalty reduced the arrears after the restart before Riley’s second try extended the advantage to 28-17.

And after a home score, a drop goal sealed the scoring for the Tigers and gave them a 20th league win of the campaign.

Roberts added: “It was a brilliant performance from the lads in what was a real pitched battle as I expected.

“They threw everything at us but we matched them and then showed touches of brilliance to get a hard-fought win.

“It was a real end-to-end game and we were under the cosh at the end but came through and it shows you cannot take your foot off the pedal.”