Five tries gave Fylde RFC a deserved bonus point for a gutsy performance in losing 52-27 at National Two North leaders Sedgley Park.

The ‘Tigers’ ran significant parts of Saturday’s match, but Fylde wouldn’t lie down and played some attractive attacking rugby.

Fylde conceded two penalties at rucks in the first couple of minutes and Sedge took advantage as Beltus Nonleh offloaded to Joe Bedlow, who scored near the posts and Oli Glass converted.

Three more penalties against Fylde saw them defending their line, where Nonleh found a gap and barrelled through to score under the posts.

Glass’ conversion extended the Sedgley lead to 14-0 and Fylde were struggling to get continuity and territory.

On 21 minutes, the Tigers attacked down their right and enough space was created for Freddie Ferguson to squeeze over.

The conversion was wide but a 19-0 lead was depressing for the visitors, who then made their attacking presence felt.

They progressed down the middle before Gabe Maguire and Dan Slawson moved the ball right.

Leo Gilliland came into the line and burst through the Sedgley defence from 30 metres out without a hand being laid on him.

Slawson’s attempted conversion drifted wide but at least Fylde were on the scoreboard before they were awarded successive penalties.

Good continuity this time saw Slawson move the ball left and a drifted, looped pass out wide saw Gilliland race in for his second try.

However, from the restart, Slawson kicked long into the Sedgley half where a lineout offence saw Matt Garrod sent to the sinbin.

A long penalty kick set up the Tigers deep in Fylde territory and, from the subsequent lineout, a driving maul was created with the ball worked out to Bedlow for his second try.

Another Sedge try by Alex Minozzi five minutes later, duly converted by Glasse, gave them a 33-10 lead at the break.

The second half started with play going to and fro before a collapsed scrum on 52 minutes saw Glasse kick to the corner for a lineout, which ended with Luke Cole being driven over.

Fylde earned a penalty from the restart kick, which they kicked to the corner before the lineout was driven to the line for Rob Williamson to score a converted try.

The Tigers replied by launching a number of drives as Danny Rylance drove over from close range for a 45-17 advantage.

Fylde’s heads didn’t drop and they were soon back in the heart of Sedgley’s territory, culminating in Aaron Pope breaking the defensive line for the bonus point try.

With six minutes left, Fylde were adjudged to have committed another penalty 15 metres out and Mike Walton was sinbinned.

Adam Mallinson took the kick quickly and drove through a tired defence to score, Glasse converting again.

Fylde completed the scoring late on after working their way into Tigers’ territory and retaining possession patiently before quick hands enabled Gilliland to complete his hat-trick.

Sedgley Park: N Pope, Hesketh, Lewis, Bedlow, Ferguson, Glass, Winterburn (Tansey 63); Downham (Blanchard 51), Cole, Nonleh (Rylance 51), Birtwell (Downham 74), James, Cox, Minozzi (Oliver 40), Ellam.

Fylde RFC: Turner (Cassidy 54), Williams, A Pope (Turner 67), Brown, Gilliland, Slawson, Maguire; Hulbert (Bowker 40), Williamson, Rudkin (Hulme 34, Rudkin 74), Wilkinson (Greenwood 51, Marsh 71), Garrad, Harrison, Marsh (Morgan 51), Walton.