SEDGLEY Tigers started last Saturday’s shock defeat at home to South Leicester as if they were still tucking into their Christmas dinner, according to coach Geoff Roberts.

The title chasers conceded four tries inside the opening 22 minutes of their return to National Two North action after the festive break.

They responded with three tries of their own from Matt Lamprey, Danny Waddy and Matt Riley to pull the score back to 29-17 with 38 minutes still to play.

But the individual mistakes that gave strugglers South Leicester a flying start returned to gift the visitors a fifth and final try in the 55th minute.

“We have to give South Leicester credit, they came out all guns blazing and deserved the victory,” said Roberts.

“But they were not made to work hard enough for their points, we basically gifted them three of their four tries in the opening half and again with their fifth after the break.

“I can only say that we were complacent. I can’t fault our lads for effort, they never stopped trying, but we just never found our feet.

“It’s as if some of the lads were still enjoying their Christmas dinners, they were just never properly switched on.”

Callum Gunn opened the scoring after just 22 seconds when Sedgley attempted to run a deep kick out of their own 22 – a smash tackle led to a turnover and an easy score for South Leicester.

Will Sutton ran in another try for the National Two North strugglers in the fifth minute, making the Tigers pay following a knock-on as they tried to clear an up-and-under.

Further scores followed from Gareth Kerr and Chris Gibbs in the 10th and 22nd minutes, respectively, with three of South Leicester’s opening four tries converted.

Unconverted tries from Lamprey and Waddy before the break, either side of a penalty from the visitors, made the score 29-10 at the break.

And while Riley’s 42nd-minute effort, converted by Steve Collins, cut the arrears further, Blane Howe countered with a seven-point try for the visitors 15 minutes after the break and South Leicester’s William Cave added a last-minute penalty.

Despite suffering a second straight shock defeat, following the Tigers’ loss at Preston Grasshoppers before the Christmas break, the result was tempered by a defeat for league leaders Macclesfield at Caldy, leaving Sedgley 14 points back in second place with a game in hand.

The gap over the chasing pack has been cut, however, after Stourbridge won to draw level on 52 points.

There was also some good news on the pitch as captain Juan Crous and long-term absentee Mike Quickenden both returned from injury.

And Roberts said Mike Waywell and Shaun Manley should both be available for Tigers' away match against Tynedale on Saturday.

The game will be played at the ground of Premiership side Newcastle Falcons after Tynedale’s stadium was flooded, and will kick off at 6.30pm.

Roberts added: “The venue and the fact the match will be played under floodlights will hopefully have a positive effect.

“Anything different like this can help switch on players, which they certainly need after last weekend’s display as this is now a must-win game for us.”