The storyline was supposed to be quite different. The expectation was a three-way final day relegation fight, but the teams already knew their fate.Sandbach and Northwich had been relegated in the last round and this week’s visitors, Leek, had avoided the drop. All that was left was for Sandbach to finish the league season with a win and to give the home fans something to cheer about.

Sandbach started the game quickly and thought they’d got a try in the opening minutes, only for the referee to call it back and award Leek the penalty. The Bach did eventually open the scoring after four minutes when Laurie Essenhigh took his trademark quick tap penalty before sprinting to the line to score.

The Bach were on the attack again after the restart and they picked up a penalty a couple of minutes later within kicking distance. Nick Allsop slotted the kick and Sandbach led 8-0 after six minutes.

Leek opened their scoring as they moved the ball across their attacking line and went over in the corner. However, Sandbach would be quickly back on the attack when fly-half Allsop found touch from a penalty. The lineout resulted in an attacking rolling maul and as it edged closer to the try line, the ball somehow found its way to Essenhigh who secured his second try of the day.

Six minutes later, Sandbach had a repeat of the last try but this time from further out. The maul powered towards the line and the forwards were unstoppable. Essenhigh once again got his hands on the ball and scored the try, widening the gap to 18-5. Leek dominated the rest of the half as they scored twice but only one conversion was successful meaning Sandbach went in at half-time leading 18-17.

Leek took the lead in the first minute of the second half, but Sandbach weren’t deterred. Winger Elliott Morris had his first proper attack of the match as the Bach regathered the ball from a Leek kick. The ball was moved wide to Jack Leech who made good ground before Morris darted along the wing. The Bach were using their attacking options well, but it was a superb long pass to winger Ed Vitta that would be the key. Vitta’s firm hand off got him through to score and Allsop’s conversion moved the scores to 25-24.

Leek were back ahead as they scored on the wing and minutes later, they capitalised again as their scrum-half dashed from half-way to score close to the posts. After fifty-seven minutes and the scores at 25-38, the Bach still had a challenge ahead of them.

Morris would move Sandbach closer as he proved his skill and determination to burst through Leek’s defence and score in the corner. Minutes later, a Sandbach penalty allowed Allsop to find touch five meters out. A maul formed from the lineout and surged towards the line as Ali Burton scored the try. After the conversion, the scores were 37-38 with seventeen minutes to go.

Sandbach left it to the final minute to secure the win when some slick and fast passing found Morris on the wing. The man of the match had plenty of work to do as he weaved through and dodged several tackles before powering over to put the Bach ahead.

Nick Allsop, who retired from senior rugby after this match, stepped up and fittingly secured the final points of the day with the conversion. Sandbach gathered the ball from the restart and kicked to touch, winning the match 44-38.

As the league season concludes, the Papa John’s Men’s Community Cup is about to start. Sandbach host Doncaster Phoenix at Bradwall Road on Saturday ,for their first match. Despite their final league position, the Bach will be spurred on by this victory and will be aiming to end the season on a high.

Match report by Rhys Fullerton