Sedgeley Park...22 Saracens.........18

WHEN these teams met at Cross Green earlier in the season Park gained a narrow victory with a late penalty and Saracens were anxious to turn the tables in the return fixture. They made a bright start and Simon Hawkins gave them the lead with a penalty but Park hit back winning a loose ball. They supported well to score a try which was converted.

Saracens regained the lead with a superb try when the forwards drove the ball on before releasing and Ryan Duckett timed his run well from full-back to take the ball at pace and outstrip the cover to score in the corner. The home side came back and after a spell of pressure they forced their way over to make it 12-8 at half-time.

Saracens fell further behind on the re-start when they lost possession in an attack and Park punished the mistake, breaking out and quick handling produced a try near the posts for a 19-8 lead. Saracens were further handicapped when Martin Hainsworth was injured and Richard Leighton had to move to scrum-half but this seemed to spur them on and Simon Hawkins reduced the deficit with a penalty.

William Darby missed a golden opportunity when he hacked on a loose ball and his pace won the race for the ball but in trying to gather near the line he knocked on. He did not let this affect him and the next time he got the ball he rounded his man and raced away for a try and the Simon Hawkins conversion made it 19-18.

A penalty by Park gave them breathing space and they hung on for a narrow win. This was a good team performance by Saracens but their ball retention left a lot to be desired. There was good news when Simon Smith, playing his first game since the beginning of the season, came through with no problems.

Otley Tongans..............23 Old Leos A............14

Tongans have lost their momentum over the Christmas period and Leos soon showed they were up for it, scoring in the corner after a combination of forwards and backs in the move and they added the conversion from the touchline.

Tongans rallied but all they had to show for their efforts was a James Henry penalty with too many players taking the wrong option. Sloppy defence gave Leos a try under the posts for a 14-3 half-time lead and things looked ominous but skipper Nick Girling, Grant Mitchell and Adie Midgeley came off the bench and tightened the play.

The pack started to drive the ball to draw the Leos' defence in and this paid off when Alistair Campbell came up from full-back to race over in the corner. The conversion was missed but James Henry kicked a penalty shortly after. Chris Burns then drove over following forward pressure and James Henry converted from the touchline. Skipper Nick Girling crowned a great fight back when he was involved in a move twice before selling an outrageous dummy and racing over. The second-half display gave Tongans a platform to build on.

Old Mods A............... 11 Otley Viscounts.........20

Viscounts had a closely fought game before completing the double over near-neighbours Mods. Chris Chilton gave them the lead with a good try, Mods replying with a penalty. Adam Richards just managed to squeeze in at the corner after good handling and Jamie Chappell added a penalty before Mods scored a try and a penalty. Viscounts clinched it when Chris Booth burst over following a forward drive and Jamie Chappell added the conversion.