SEDGLEY Tigers coach Geoff Roberts has his fingers crossed the weather does not have a decisive impact on their top-of-the-table clash at Macclesfield on Saturday.

The Park Lane outfit were forced to switch tactics to overcome mid-table Sale last weekend after going 10-0 down inside the opening 25 minutes.

Roberts said a howling gale and torrential rain made it impossible from them to continue with their usual running game, but after handing the ball to their forwards they fought back to claim a 17-13 victory.

“We always try to play open rugby,” said Roberts. “With our back line, on a dry day we would back ourselves against anybody, but in the conditions we played in at the weekend we had to get stuck in and drive at Sale with our forwards.

“Macclesfield are used to playing that way more than us, so we have got to try to address that.

“It may be a case on Saturday that we will have to try to beat them at their own game, if the weather continues the way it has been.

“That will obviously make it harder for us to get the win we need to throw the title race back open, but if that is the case then it will be up to us to work out a way around that.”

Sedgley kept the pressure up on National League Division Two North leaders Macclesfield, with two tries from Danny Waddy proving the difference against Sale.

Unconverted tries from Sale’s Sam Stelmaszek, in the fourth minute, and Chris Mayor, on 25 minutes, put the Tigers on the back foot but they managed to grind it out.

Waddy touched down at the back of a driving maul for his first score in the 33rd minute, which was converted by Steve Collins to send the two sides into the break level.

A penalty from Collins put the Tigers in front for the first time 10 minutes after the break and another converted try from Waddy following a similar drive up field 10 minutes from time effectively settled the encounter.

A penalty from Sale’s Liam McGovern on 73 minutes made it interesting, but as the conditions worsened neither side was able to put together a concerted period of play to add a further score.

The fightback against Sale ensured Sedgley go into Saturday’s match at Macclesfield comfortably in second place, but still seven points behind their opponents.

With four points for a win, however, victory would put them within touching distance of the leaders.

“The hope is that if we can pull off a win then that would put us right on Macclesfield’s coattails,” added Roberts.

“They still have to come to Park Lane to play us so it would put the title back in the balance.

“If we win then we are right back in the hunt for top spot, lose then we would have to look for them to slip up.

“So it is a massive game and I just hope we get the chance to put on a good show.”