SEDGLEY Tigers powered their way back into the National Two North play-off spot with a bonus-point victory at home to promotion rivals Leicester Lions.

Tries from Max Ashcroft, Danny Waddy and Rob Holloway, plus two conversions and a penalty from stand-in kicker Matt Riley, helped them to a 22-0 lead inside the opening 20 minutes.

The in-form Lions reduced the arrears with an unconverted try from Sam Benjamin before the break and put Sedgley under more pressure in the second half.

But the home side held them at bay and increased their advantage with a 43rd-minute penalty before a late try from Matt Lamprey secured the extra point.

Victory moved them back above the Lions and into second ahead of Stourbridge, who fell to third after failing to secure a bonus point in their 25-19 win at home to bottom side Huddersfield.

Sedgley also reduced the gap to leaders Macclesfield to 14 points as the table-toppers also failed to bag a bonus in their last-ditch victory over second-bottom Luctonians, making it a perfect afternoon for coach Geoff Roberts.

"It was wonderful to move back into second with so many games in hand," said Roberts, with Sedgley having played one game fewer than Macclesfield, above Stourbridge on points difference with four games in hand and five points better off than Leicester Lions with three games in hand.

"I must admit I was a bit reticent before the game as Leicester were a team in form and we had sat the previous two weekends out due to postponed games.

"But since losing at home to South Leicester after the New Year we have really put in some solid performances, whenever we have had a chance to play.

"And the lads delivered again on Saturday, even though we were missing a few key players."

Regular kicker Steve Collins was missing at the weekend and will not be available for this Saturday's trip to Huddersfield.

The teacher has taken his pupils on a skiing holiday, but Chris Wilkinson deputised at number 10, while Riley filled his boots in the kicking department.

Johnny Matthews was also missing for Sedgley, but he is due to return this weekend.

With more heavy rain in the forecast before the weekend, Roberts expects another tough test at Huddersfield.

But he is confident, if they can repeat the same level of performance as was on display against Leicester, then his side can continue to put pressure on their rivals.

"Huddersfield might be bottom, but they gave Stourbridge a run for their money on Saturday and only lost 5-3 against Leicester the previous weekend," Roberts added.

"If we get the heavy rain that is forecast then I expect this to be another tough test, dominated by the forwards, but if our defence can match what they did against Leicester then we should be okay.

"They were absolutely superb at the weekend, never gave the opposition a sniff, so at the minute I would say we are in a pretty good place.

"All of our rivals seem to be stuttering at the moment.

"Macclesfield needed a last-minute score to take the win at the weekend, so we just have to make sure that we keep the pressure on and take every bonus point that is available to us to chip away at their lead."