Sandbach returned for the third consecutive year to Thurstaston in an attempt to make it a hatrick of victories in the Caldy Festival. In the previous 2 seasons Sandbach had managed to go through the tournament winning every match and without Conceding a point. The coaching team were under no illusions that this year it would be a much sterner test. The standard of teams in the U15's competition was extremely high including the hosts and current County Champions Caldy, one of the best age group teams in the UK in Mold, a Wilmslow team based largely on the school side who had just qualified for the Daily Mail Schools U15's Cup Final at Twickenham and a much improved Wirral team boasting half a dozen county players. Old friends Altrincham Kersal together with Shrewsbury and Flint made up the remaining entries. Sandbach were drawn in a very tough round robin group alongside Mold, Wilmslow and unknown quantity Flint.
Match 1 - Wilmslow
First up were old rivals Wilmslow and to their great credit they had followed through on their commitment to play the Festival despite most of the squad playing in the Daily Mail Schools U15's Semi-Final only the day before. That match had clearly taken its toll but no Wilmslow side takes the field against Sandbach without being competitive and for large parts of the game Wilmslow controlled the ball. However as soon as Sandbach gained some clean ball the backs were able to release Adam Lancaster-Bartle who in his customary fashion raced away from the cover to open the scoring. In the second half ALB added a second and James Broad a third with Ollie Dray converting 2 to give a final score of 19-0.
Best wishes go to the Wilmslow boys in representing the county at Twickenham - hopefully they can bring back the cup for Cheshire.
Match 2 - Flint
In a first meeting between these sides Sandbach quickly demonstrated they had too much power and pace for the Flint team. Taos Grisdale forced his way over and ALB raced in for 2 more tries with Jack Moran adding 2 conversions. Some careless defence allowed Flint in for a try to complete a half time score of 19-5. In the second half Tom Hutchinson, playing in the unaccustomed position of fly half, sold a dummy and shot through a gap some 60m from the Flint line to race in for a try converted by Jack Moran. An Elliot Barton try completed a score line of 31-5.
Match 3 - Mold
Sandbach knew how good this Mold team are having faced them early in the season. Lots of pace, aggressive well drilled forwards and tactically aware this was going to be a tough game. However, having guaranteed a place in the cup semi final Sandbach chose to make full use of their squad and ensure everyone had some game time. Unfortunately Sandbach failed to cover a couple of cross field kicks and were hesitant in defence to hand Mold a 17-0 half time lead. In the second half Sandbach showed much more commitment in defence to restrict Mold to one further score but still fell to a 22-0 defeat.
In the other group Caldy had won all their matches to set up a cup semi-final against Sandbach with the second semi-final
being contested between Mold and Wirral.
Cup Semi-Final - Caldy
In a fiercely fought contest a number of the Caldy contingent forgot 'This is Rugby' and the elements of Respect, Discipline and Sportsmanship. The Sandbach players kept their heads for ALB to add another and Nick Weaver a penalty in an 8-0 victory
and a final showdown against Mold.
Cup Final - Mold
Having suffered a heavy defeat in the round robin game Sandbach needed to demonstrate great desire and belief in their abilities to overcome Mold. The organisers had agreed with Mold to delay the U15's Final until after the U16's game.
Unfortunately they failed to notify Sandbach - so having warmed up once the Sandbach players had to prepare a second time and this probably contributed to a sluggish start and an early converted try being conceded. Against a team of Mold's quality to come back from this position would take great determination and that is exactly what the Sandbach players displayed. Holding Mold to a half-time score of 0-7 Sandbach controlled the second period. Following sustained pressure on the Mold line Taos spotted a gap and forced his way over. Sandbach were now beginning to retain and move the ball fluently and eventually the pressure told. Quick hands fed the ball to ALB 30m out and as he had done all afternoon Adam outpaced the cover to touch down for try no. 6. The icing on the cake came in shape of some very cool thinking. The forwards drove deep into the Mold half, presented good clean ball for scrum half Tom Hutch to deliver to Nick Weaver who calmly slotted over a 30m drop goal to seal the game 13-7.
A terrific squad performance in what was undoubtedly the strongest Caldy Festival we have taken part in. A couple of late cry offs meant some very late call ups and to win this tournament for a third time is a great testament to a wonderful set of players.
Tries: Lancaster-Bartle (6), Broad, Grisdale (2), Barton, Hutchinson.
Conversions: Moran (3), Dray (2).
Penalty: Weaver
Drop goal: Weaver
SQUAD: Adam Lancaster-Bartle, David Steer (C), Elliot Barton, Fred Joyce, George Cooper, George Hopley, Henry Jones, Hugo Fairlie, Jack Moran, James Broad, James Symms, Joe Watts, Liam Rundell, Matt Guindy, Nick Weaver, Oliver Dray, Oliver Moore, Rory Toft, Taos Grisdale, Thomas Butler, Thomas Hutchinson, Thomas Shaw.