Bach Go Down Again but Plenty of Positives

Sandbach continued with their recent win drought, but despite the scoreline there were plenty of positives for the home side and possibly not a true reflection of the effort put in. In the end Sandbach were made to pay for a few errors, which reflects where they are at the moment and given the average age and experience of the team, is perhaps expected. Even with half the normal team still missing due to injury or availability, it was nevertheless noticeable that just the return of Ryan Barrett at full back and Joel Grout in the centre, Sandbach at least were something more like themselves, when they did get chance to run with the ball.

On an overcast afternoon with the odd shower throughout the game, Macclesfield kicked off and immediately put Sandbach under pressure, as they failed to exit effectively. This proved fatal as they then conceded a penalty minutes later and Macc centre Harry Oliver kicked the opportunity over from in front of the posts, for an early lead. Sandbach quickly hit back when an intricate move in midfield, breached the visitors defence and scrum half Laurie Essenhigh was away to score. Macclesfield responded themselves to retake the lead, as their own well worked set play saw Harry Oliver cut inside the scrambling defensive line to score and Oliver converted his own effort.

Once again Sandbach countered as Essenhigh streaked away from a quick tap penalty to score his second and having missed an earlier long-range penalty, this time fly half Kieran Stubbs was successful with the boot, his conversion putting the Bach 12 v 10 ahead after twenty minutes. Once again Macclesfield responded with another try from a planned moved exposing an edge and full back Harry Blackwell was able to stroll in. Sandbach should have equalised in the final play of the half, when with a penalty in front of the posts Stubbs unfortunately pushed the kick wide, as both teams went in at the break with just three points in it.

Macclesfield clearly decided to change tack at the break, electing to kick for position and look for the home team to make a mistake. It was still nip and tuck ten minutes into the half, but critically Sandbach attempted to run out of defence from under their posts and lost possession of the ball, leaving a relatively simple job of moving the ball through the hands, for Macc's flanker Brendan Berry to score in the corner. Sandbach then had a clearance kick charged down and the resulting scrum and driving maul saw Macc’s player coach Olly Longmore over and with Oliver converting it was beginning to look ominous for the Bach.

Macclesfield again scored from a Sandbach error when an attempted chip over the top landed in the arms of the onrushing Babarinsa, who sprinted in from the halfway line, as the Bach defence was committed. Oliver again converted as he did later when Sandbach bought a dummy from Macclesfield’s fly half Charlie Attis, but by then the game was all over. Sandbach kept going in the hope of at least a try bonus point, but it was not to be, with Sandbach being penalised at the death for holding on, as they chased at least a consolation try.

Sandbach can take heart that against a promotion changing unbeaten outfit, they were still competitive and with players like eighteen-year-old Harry Mitchell making his league debut on the wing, they continue to blood promising talent, which bodes well for the long-term future. Getting a few players back from off the treatment table will be critical for them to ensure that they remain at Level 5, so it was also good to see former Club Captain Jack Seddon come on during the game, having recovered from a broken ankle. A few more like that will make all the difference and mixing it with the young talent coming through, hopefully that will be enough to keep the Bach heads above the water this season.