SEDGLEY Park general manager Geoff Roberts believes his side were fortunate to come away with a victory in their first outing of 2018 against South Leicester.

After a two-week break from action in National Two North, the Tigers hosted the east Midlands outfit looking to close the gap at the top of the table.

They did just that, scoring four tries in the process at Park Lane, but Roberts conceded they were far from their best in the 26-21 triumph.

He told the Bury Times: "I don't know how we managed to win that game.

"We seemed to scrape through the whole game.

"We were always in front but never got going at all.

"The passing was not as accurate as it normally is, we didn't tackle well and didn't play well as a unit, full stop.

"I walked off at the end wondering how we got the win really.

"Admittedly South Leicester play differently to most teams and while they are a stocky side, they are good with their feet.

"It was just one of those games where nothing really clicked but the fact we got the win must count for something."

Just three minutes were on the clock when Daniel Maher scored the first Sedgley try and Steve Collins kick the first of three successful conversions.

After a penalty was missed by the visitors, Andy Riley crossed the whitewash and Collins again kicked to make it 14-0 after less than a quarter of an hour.

Two penalties and a try made it 14-11 after the visitors rallied before the interval.

Early in the second period, Sam Lowthion crossed for a try and after South Leicester responded with a score of their own, Ben Black scored a fourth for Sedgley.

Despite the patchy performance, the Tigers now sit fourth in the table, nine points behind leaders Hinckley with a game in hand.

And they have the perfect chance to reduce that gap further on Saturday when they visit the table-toppers.

But Roberts knows his side will have to play much better to become the first team to win at Hinckley after nine successive home victories this season in the league for their hosts.

He added: "Hopefully the South Leicester display will give us a bit of a kick to up our game.

"To be fair the lads all recognised it wasn't the best but going to play the leaders we will have to be on form."