GEOFF Roberts feels Sedgley Tigers are still on course for the National Division Two play-off – if they can weather their injury storm.

Sedgley were already without Matt Riley, Mike Waywell and Ben Lloyd heading into last Saturday’s home game against fifth-placed Caldy.

And Roberts’ injury problems mounted as he lost hooker Johnny Mathews (concussion) and fly-half Steve Collins (ankle) during a 24-20 win for the visitors.

Leaders Macclesfield won to stretch their cushion at the top to 18 points, while victory for fourth-placed Leicester Lions saw them move within two points of second-placed Sedgley.

The Tigers are in action at Park Lane again this Saturday as they welcome Stourbridge, their closest challengers for a play-off spot, who are a point behind them in third.

And while Roberts accepts a title tilt may now be beyond them, he believes the Tigers can keep the chasing pack at arm’s length to secure second place.

“The injury issues are starting to pile up and make a difference to us,” said the Sedgley coach.

"But they’re not long term so, if we can get through the next two or three weeks without any further injures, then hopefully things will look a bit brighter when we get a few bodies back.

“With our postponed games being rescheduled, we’ve got a game virtually every week now, but if the weather holds out and we can keep players fit, we should be okay.

“Saturday’s result was a knock in terms of challenging for top spot, but we still have three games in hand on the teams below us so we’re still in quite a good position for getting into the play-offs.”

Collins kicked two penalties to put Sedgley in front on Saturday, only for Caldy to score a converted try moments after having a man sin-binned.

Matthews then crossed, though, and Collins converted to give the Tigers an 11-7 lead at half-time.

Caldy replied with their second try and although Collins was forced off on 59 minutes, Chris Wilkinson converted a penalty try moments later to put the Tigers 20-12 up.

But the visitors crossed twice in the last 15 minutes to end the Tigers’ four-match winning streak, while Sedgley’s Jamie Harrison was sin-binned on 69 minutes.

“It was a pretty grim day at the office,” said Roberts. “We just didn’t perform the way we’d like to.

“We had Shaun Manley at six and he was outstanding, he was our man-of-the-match.

“There were some flashes of what we can do but we just didn’t manage to put it all together.

“All the things we’ve been moaning about in recent weeks – the condition of the pitch, the weather – they were all favourable, but we made heavy work of it.

“Credit to Caldy, they got stuck in and took the game away from us.

"They played in a workmanlike way and we never got on top of our game.”

Liam West is set to replace Matthews against Stourbridge while Riley could return, although Roberts doesn’t see it as a must-win game.

“There are too many games to go for it to be decisive,” added the Sedgley coach.

“We’re still in a very good position but if we do win then it will push Stourbridge further away.”