PERTEMP BEES 12, SEDGLEY PARK 6: Two sides facing the drop fought out a dour game with few chances created by either, with the Bees grabbing the win five minutes into injury time, as the Tigers showed yet again an inability to close out a game writes Peter Collins

Leading 6-5 with 85 minutes on the clock, it looked like four points would be heading back up the M6 to Whitefield, but the Bees had other ideas.

The first half produced a 0-0 scoreline with neither side looking likely to break the deadlock.

On a positive note, Sedgley produced a good, hard, committed 40 minutes, especially in defence,

They seemed happy just to keep the ball tight and work their way through the pick-and-go phases before spinning it out to Phil Jones to go for distance.

However, his kicking game produced mixed results.

Sedgley's physical approach may have bossed the first quarter, but it produced only one try-scoring opportunity.

On eight minutes Park won a scrum five metres inside the Bees' half and the ball was fed from left to right and back again by right wing Jon Feeley, who eventually found left wing Chris Hall and he was bundled into touch a few metres short of the Bees' try line.

Jones then had an opportunity to give the Tigers the lead on 17 minutes with a penalty goal attempt, but it sailed wide.

From that point on the Bees began to gain control in the face of some fierce Sedgley tackling and rucking.

Several times they forced play to within five metres of the Tigers' line, only to be met by a determined defence that kept the scoreline pointless at the turnaround.

The Tigers emerged for the second half again determined to turn the screw and again dictated the pace in the third quarter.

On 50 minutes the Bees had a chance to take the lead through David Knight's boot, but he inexplicably missed from 15 metres.

Whereas the Tigers were happy to keep the ball in the forwards and use Jones' boot to put them deeper into Bees' territory, the home side were constantly looking to spin the ball out wide, with centres Adam Billig and Simon Martin in the thick of the action.

On 52 minutes this gameplan paid off.

Winning lineout call-ball following a penalty on half-way, the Bees moved the ball first one way, then the other and back again to the left, where a dummied pass caught the Tigers out and substitute Will Matthews cut through the wrong-footed defence to go in unopposed by the posts. Unfortunately Knight missed the conversion attempt and the Bees had to make do with just a 5-0 lead.

Determined to restore parity Sedgley forced the Bees into mistakes and within six minutes were in front, thanks to two well taken Jones penalties.

But as the final quarter was ushered in, the home side again began to build up their momentum, although another substitute, Ben Harvey, squandered a penalty chance.

The Tigers' defensive effort looked like keeping the Bees out until the 85th minute when, following a successful lineout catch on the Tigers ten-metre line, the Bees, in a last throw of the dice, swung the ball first one way and then back the other.

A drive to the posts looked to have been halted, but the ball was somehow fired out to the right where stand-off Tim Walsh squeezed over in the far corner, despite looking like he'd stepped in touch prior to grounding the ball.

Converting the last gasp winner, Harvey broke the Tigers' hearts and left them with a measly one point when four looked there for the taking.

Along with other results this win hoisted the Bees up two places in the table while concreting the Tigers in bottom spot.

With only nine games to go, even though six of them are at home, it is looking increasing likely that the Tigers will once more be playing Division Two rugby next season.

That is unless there is as massive turnaround in fortunes on the pitch, or the RFU decide to allow the National Leagues to grow from 14 clubs to 16, thus suspending relegation this season and preserving the Tigers' Division One status.

However, it is not advisable to hold one's breath.

SEDGLEY PARK: Wilkinson, Feeley, Voortman, De Jager (Woof 54), Hall, Jones, Albinson, Roberts (Gazzola 79), Oxley, Evans, Skurr, Lund, Senior (Rowe 57), Ponton, Fourie. Subs (not used): Keys, Du Plessis, Anania, Peters.