Saturday saw the start of the new season 2026/27 for the Tigers. After the disappointment of being relegated from National One we were looking for a big start to life back in National Two North. Head coach and his coaching team had worked hard during the closed season to build a squad that would push for promotion come the end of the season. Fourteen new exciting young players had been added to the squad alongside the experienced stalwarts, which has given us a lot of strength in depth, especially after losing some significant players from last year. Winger Reece Henderson, flanker Lewis Bradley, scrum half Matt Sturgess and hooker Ben Gregory had left at the end of the season and their contributions had been immense for the Tigers. Alongside this, club legend Andy Riley decided to retire after 306 appearances for the club.
Pre-season training had gone really well and wins against Rossendale, Preston Grasshoppers and Sheffield in our three friendly matches had put the squad in a strong position. Our opening game was at home to Darlington Mowden Park, a big, well organised outfit who had finished last season near the top of the league, so this was going to be a big challenge. It was also the David Smith Memorial Day in memory of our past chairman, who had done so much over the years to build and develop the club.
Conditions on the day were excellent for open, fast rugby with a dry firm pitch and we dominated from the start. Our defence was excellent and we had most of the possession in the opening exchanges. A penalty after 5 minutes gave us a line out on the DMP five metres. A powerful catch and drive from the forwards saw new flanker Alex Minozzi crash over for the opening score. This was followed seven minutes later with a second for Alex after another strong surge from the forwards. New fly half Ciaran Shone converted and we were 12-0 up, playing with pace and momentum. However Darlington hit back quickly with a try for scrum half Ben Douglas after a line break through the middle, putting them back in the game at 12-7.
A penalty on twenty minutes gave us another line out in their five metres which was driven by the forwards and finished off by Alex for a hat trick on his debut. Ciaran again converted and we were 19-7 up going into the last twenty minutes of the half. Darlington looked to take the game to us every time they had possession but our defensive sets were immense and kept them out time after time. Another passage of play deep into their twenty two saw stalwart second row Bob Birtwell crash over for our fourth and bonus point try, giving us a 26-7 lead at half time and dominating the game.
Playing up the slope in the second half we quickly added to the score line after an overthrow in the DMP line out was collected by hooker Adam Mallinson, who went over unopposed. Ciaran again converted and we were now 33-7 up with most of the half to go. However another rare line break from the opposition was finished off by Ben Douglas for his second of the afternoon to reduce the lead to 33-12. Another entrance into their twenty two on 57 minutes saw a patient build up of phases which was finished off with a lovely converted try out wide for full back Nathan Pope, further extending the lead to 40-12.
A yellow card for new hooker Luke Cole on sixty minutes reduced us to fourteen players and during this period they came back with a third score for hooker Harrison Ford. A second yellow card, for Alex Minozzi on seventy two minutes, did not help and in fairness to Darlington they came back with a fourth and bonus point try for scrum half Douglas, his third. Despite this late surge we finished the day with a lovely try for new scrum half Alex Davies, converted by Ciaran. The game finished 47-26 to the Tigers and a well deserved five point bonus try win.
An excellent start to the new season with all the players giving their all. Special mention for flanker Alex Minozzi with his hat trick on his debut and fly half Ciaran Shone with six conversions on his debut for the club. Next week we are away to old rivals Chester, who recorded a big win against Wharfedale, so this will be another stern test. We will work hard in training and look forward to the challenge, so get behind the players and make the short trip over to Chester next Saturday.
Cheers, Steve Hazz.
Fireworks Night tickets are on sale
Fireworks Night is back at Park Lane on Saturday 31st October. Gates open at 4pm and the display goes up after dark, with children’s entertainment, food vendors, a children’s sparkler area and the clubhouse bar open all night. Tickets are £10 for adults and £2.50 for under 18s, and you can buy adult and child tickets together on one screen. There is no parking on site, so please come by bus or on foot if you can.
Have a look around the new website
If you are reading this, you are already on it. The new look sedgley-tigers.com is live, with fixtures, news, the programme and our partners all easier to find. Have a click around and let us know what you think.
Next up: Chester away
Round 02 takes us to Hare Lane on Saturday 12th September, 3pm kick off, for the first away day of the season against old rivals Chester. Make the short trip and get behind the lads. COYT
