Once again it was cloudy grey and windy for our match.today we played host to Newcastle who had won League C in a friendly, little did we know at this stage what a classic game we were in for, but watching the Newcastle lads run onto the pitch one thing was clear, they were all huge.

Sandbach with the wind kick off and immediately put of the pressure, from the first tackles, it is clear this is going to be a hard fought game. Sandbach's pressure Wins the ball which is passed to Henry who spots a gap and is through to score, converting his own try 7-0

Newcastle kick off and win the ball, but good defending and tackling turns the ball, progress is soon halted although Sandbach have the scrum. the ball is fed in and the Newcastle pack put in a huge push that moves Sandbach backwards, the ball is just retained, however the clearing kick goes over the dead ball line and we are back where we started. scrum Newcastle.

Newcastle win the scrum and move the ball wide, Sandbach defend well, but Newcastle pile the pressure on and pile in the forwards, they find a gap and crash over to score. Missed conversion 7-5

sandbach kick off and again pile on the pressure, which results in a penalty. A quick tap and the ball is moved along the line smoothly to Tom asking who has the easiest score just in from the corner. excellent kick from Henry hits the post and misses 12-5

Newcastle kick off and once more it is tough in the forwards. Big hits and great tackling going in from both sides, the Sandbach players are tackling well and not letting Newcastle break through. This is a closely but very fairly fought contest. Newcastle have the line-outs well sorted and their jumper is winning everything, but good solid defence is holding Newcastle, and we always look dangerous when he ball is in our backs. With he wind behind Alex is. Kicking well and a couple of good chases give Sandbach a chance, but the odd handling error halts progress.

Suddenly Newcastle are on the attack, their winger breaks free and only has Alex to beat, great tackle stops him dead,and a knock on gives Sandbach the scrum, the ball is won, but James is held up as he tries to clear, and now the scrum goes to Newcastle. More good defence and another rpenalty allows Sandbach to clear. Hmm thought that kick had gone much further than that. Once again trouble at the line, Newcastle win he ball and set up a driving maul, which powers over the Sandbach line to score. Missed conversion 12-10

The kick off sees the game continue in the same way, good attacking play, great defence, maul held, s rum won, tackle turned more tackles lineout, lost again, it is full on with no rest for hard working players on both sides

Newcastle once again have the ball in an attacking position, they. Move the ball along the line and find for once they have a man over who scores in the corner. Missed conversion 12-15
The game is in the balance, Sandbach though respond very well, and even under pressure are working well, winning the ball on the edge of their own 22 they move the ball very well along the backs carrying forward and making yard sall the time, now pressing deep into Newcastle territory, Joe collects the ball spots the gap, breaks through the tackle and is in to score. Jack does a great drop kick conversion 19-15

Half time, chance for a well earns rest. Wow

Newcastle kick off the second half and it is straight back to where we had left off, both sets of forwards tackling hard working harder at the breakdown and both teams trying to dominate the scrum. sandbach have recovered well from the surprise of the first scrum ,and they are now more even, but we seem to have
No answer to the lineout which we lose every time.

The ball is back at the halfway line, Sandbach win the penalty take a quick tap and move it along the backs, Joe breaks a tackle and makes a great run, good support play, offloads, more progress, back to Joe again and he is through to score under the posts. Converted 26-15

Newcastle kick off and pile on the pressure, Pat, Joe W, Callum, Mike, in fact all the forwards are once again battling to stop Newcastle making progress, and trying to steal possession, it is a fantastic team effort. But Newcastle are on he attack again, winning a penalty they kick for touch. The plan is simple and very well executed, lineout won, set up the maul, drive over the line to score 26-20. Conversion missed

Play restarts, and it is not long before the whole process is repeated, penalty kick for the line, win lineout, maul drive over the line and score 26-25. Sandbach need to have Alan to deal with this or else it may cost them the game.

Again just when you think the balance of the game has shifted back to Newcastle, Sandbach respond, and once again it is the backs who are having the most success, as at the end of the first half they pick up the ball deep in their own half, Alex makes a great run supported by Tom K, Joe, Alex again and we are now into Newcastle half one more offload to Joe who breaks a final despairing tackle and he is in to score, a fabulous move that has all the crowd applauding great play. Converted 33-25.

More tight play continues with Newastle try to get back on the front foot, but Sandbach's defence is strong and holding up well. Newcastle finally win a scrum inside Sandabch's 22 they win the ball and the No.10 does a neat reverse pass along his centre to break through and score under the posts

With little time left the pressure is all on, can. sandbach hold on, or will Newcastle find a way through. Sandbach win the kick off and press into he Newcastle 22 but the ball is eventually lost and kick clear. The game continues, and Newcastle finally win the ball and begin to press forward for what must be the last attack. Winning a penalty the tap and move it to the wing, high tackle gives the, another penalty near the line and I side our 22. Come on Sandbach we know what is coming.

As expected the lineout ball is won the maul and drive set but Sandbach with a huge effort hold the drive in its tracks, eventually Newcastle break out and rush for the line, great tackling stops them dead, they recycle again and again as the ball move sin field still looking for that gap, but Sandbach are hitting harder and harder, and eventually force the smallest of errors, a knock on 1 metre from the try line and the ref blows full time.

Sandbach hold on to win an absolute cracker of a game. All the parents give all the lads from both teams a well deserved round of applause. This was junior rugby at its very best, a really hard game played in an excellent spirit, that could have gone either way.

Well done to all of you, sorry not to give each of you more credit , but the tackles, rucks and mauls seemed a mass of players, arms and legs it is difficult sometimes to see who put in the initial tackle.