SEDGLEY Tigers coach Geoff Roberts praised his side's never-say-die attitude after the Park Lane outfit came from behind to win at Yorkshire rivals Otley on Saturday.

A last-gasp try from Matt Riley powered the Tigers to their fourth successive win of the season, with the inside-centre touching down five minutes into stoppage time to seal a 28-25 comeback victory for the unbeaten league leaders.

And Roberts was delighted with the smash-and-grab bonus point success, which moved his side three points clear at the top of National League Division Two North.

"Having led for the majority of the game we felt dead and buried when they took the lead in the final minute," he told The Guide.

"But we put about 10 phases together in the final moments – which stretched to four or five minutes – and made it count.

"It was a fantastic result, a real smash-and-grab and typical of Sedgley's never-say-die attitude.

"The bonus point was the icing on the cake."

The Tigers, who have struggled against Otley in recent times – going down 39-10 at Cross Green last December – were behind on two minutes when winger Henry Roberts scored the opening try. Stephen Depledge added the conversion.

Sedgley lost Tom Dewland, who was playing out of position at tight-head prop, to injury midway through the half but with Jack Warrington proving an inspired replacement, Sedgley began to take control.

Two quick-fire tries from Jamie Harrison on 25 and 33 minutes, both converted by Steve Collins, gave the Tigers a 14-7 lead at the break.

But the hosts threw everything at the visiting pack in the second half and levelled the score on 46 minutes when Roberts scored his second converted try.

And when captain Juan Crous was sinbinned it looked like the Tigers were in for a long afternoon.

However, man-of-the-match Riley smashed his way through for the Tigers' third try on 62 minutes, which Collins again converted, before Depledge kept Otley in touch with a penalty.

A try from replacement prop-forward Charles Capps gave Otley a 22-21 lead with nine minutes remaining, and a Depledge penalty looked to have sealed the win for the hosts.

But Riley's late try, which was converted by Collins, capped off a gritty Tigers performance.

"It was a game of four 20-minute spells," said Roberts.

"We struggled early on. We were penalised at the scrum, we didn't have field play and we didn't have possession.

"But the introduction of Jack Warrington balanced the scrum and we suddenly had a platform to play off and by half time we were on top.

"Then Crous got a yellow card and substitutions in the last 20 meant we lost our way until those final moments.

"There were some great performances, with Ben Lloyd, Danny Waddy and Johnny Matthews all playing fantastically well.

"But if you had to pick a man of the match for his sheer tackling, presence and tries you have to say Matt Riley."

The Tigers entertain second-from-bottom Luctonians at Park Lane on Saturday.