Following yet another cancellation to the weather the previous weekend we had cool but otherwise good conditions for this return fixture at Bradwall Road against Manchester.
The developing Manchester team had strengthened considerably when we faced them for the first game of the 09-10 season and they boast a number of County players amongst their ranks. The early exchanges were keenly contested with Manchester testing Sandbach repeatedly. However a combination of some good scrambling defence and some good fortune kept the Sandbach line intact. When midway through the half, Sandbach fed the ball to right wing Adam lancaster-Bartle he was 50m out and with 3 defenders ahead of him but importantly had some space to work with. Adam now beginning to discover his best form didn't hesitate, rounding his opposite number and showing great pace to outsprint the other 2 defenders to the line. The conversion was missed but this signalled the beginning of a 15 minute spell up to half time when Sandbach took control of the game.
A good switch pass between Dave Steer and ALB sent the right wing racing away between the Manchester centres on another 40m run to the line. Jack Moran, taking over kicking duties, slotted the conversion. Next a short pass from Tom Hutchinson, now playing fly half, sent prop Liam Rundell on a typical powerful run, scattering defenders to go over the line, then Dave Steer finished off an equally strong burst to round off the first half try scoring. A pair of Jack Moran conversions completed a half time score line of 26-0 to Sandbach.
The second half was a much closer scoring affair. This was in large part down to the Manchester teams resolve as they managed to disrupt the Sandbach game. The home team did add one other score when scrum half Jack Moran showed good awareness to score his first try for the team forcing his way over from close range following a period of sustained pressure on the Manchester line. Jack converted his own score to make it 4 out of 4.
A slightly scrappy second half in which Sandbach were unable find the fluency of recent weeks but none the less a good victory against a talented Manchester team. Particularly pleasing was the work effort to prevent Manchester from scoring and the fine form now being shown by some individuals.
Tries: Lancaster-Bartle (2), Rundell, Steer, Moran.
Conversions: Moran (4).
SQUAD: Adam Lancaster-Bartle, Andy Davies, David Steer (C), Eddie Webster, Elliot Morris, Fred Joyce, George Cooper, Hugo Fairlie, Jack Harrison, Jack Moran, James Broad, James Symms, Joe Watts, Kieren Dale, Liam Rundell, Luke Houghton, Mark Toleman (VC), Matt Guindy, Nick Weaver, Oliver Dray, Oliver Moore, Rory Toft, Taos Grisdale, Thomas Hutchinson.