Blackburn Show Promotion Contensions

Despite the scoreline there was plenty of positives to take from a Bach team, that with a number of changes from last season, is still in the rebuilding process. Blackburn clearly deserved their victory and with an established and experienced side, were clinical in exposing Sandbach’s defensive unfamiliarity and recognising mismatches. Certainly with a few more experienced players back, some defensive errors will quickly be eradicated, but overall it was clear that the hard work the coaching team have been putting in, is beginning to bear fruit, but it may take some time yet.

On a baking afternoon, there was a minute’s silence before the game, following the recent passing away of Sandach’s former Club Chairman and all-round charismatic personality, Robin Astles. The action soon started, with a high tempo from both sides, but it was Burn that opened the scoring when they identified a back against a prop and the break was made, putting winger Foster in for his first. Sandbach quickly responded and a few minutes later it was all square, as a neat kick over the advancing defence from new fly half George Cole, put Jack Leech away. The experienced centre having enough gas to level it all up.

The pace despite the heat was relentless and Blackburn retook the lead when the dancing feet of centre Jarrold stepped through the Bach defence and winger Fifield converted. Undaunted Sandbach fought back and twenty minutes in, full back Jack Williams knocked over a penalty to reduce the deficit to 8 v 12, but that was the best it was to be for the Bach. Their cause was not helped at this time by the loss of No. 8 Josh Brookes, who hobbled off with what looks like a hamstring injury. Five minutes from the break Blackburn scored a spectacular length of the field try, when a kick looked like it was rolling in their far corner, but a couple of long passes across the try line, recognised another mismatch and Fifield was a way to score. Having converted his own effort, he knocked over another just before the break, as big second row Scrivens went over for Burn, making it 8 v 26 at half time.

It was pretty much the same in the second period with Sandbach showing plenty of enterprise, but not quite having the cohesion to finish openings off. Blackburn on the other hand were far more precise, exposing dips in Sandbach’s defensive concentration and scored three further tries as wingers Fifield and Foster both added to their earlier efforts and replacement Jack Granby grabbing the other. All of these were converted, Fifield doing the honours, except for the last, which Jarrold booted over.

So still some work to do for the Bach but the result needs to be put into some context. Blackburn having missed out on promotion by the narrowest of margins last year, on points difference, will certainly be there or thereabouts again this campaign. Sandbach will get better as the team continues to gel, a few players return from injury and the young players adapt to this level of rugby. There are no easy games in this league though, as Sandbach travel up the Wirral next weekend, to test themselves against newly promoted Anselmians. The home team will be keen to avenge their defeat just over a year ago to the Bach in the Cheshire Cup final, while Sandbach will be eager to get their League season properly up and running.