Sandbach produced their second-highest score of the season and secured a play-off spot after scoring nine tries against local rivals Winnington Park on Saturday. The visitors from Northwich made it tough early on, but they picked up a red card in the first half, which led to Sandbach running away with the game after the break.

For Sandbach, full-back Harry Leese was back in the team with Matt Randle moving to the wing. Sam Bromley was back for his fifth start and hooker Will Bowbeer made his first start of the season.

Before the match began, a minute’s silence was held in memory of Chris Bennett, a dedicated Sandbach Rugby Club volunteer who sadly passed away recently.

The sidelines were packed as Winnington Park kicked off, and both teams exchanged some early kicking. The first try of the afternoon was scored by Sandbach centre Ben Verbickas. Fellow centre Ed Vitta had made a strong run and slipped through several tackles. The ball made its way to Verbickas, who ran through for the try.

Several minutes later, Winnington Park got their first score from a strong driving scrum. This set piece was strong in the reverse fixture and would prove problematic for Sandbach again.

Sandbach enjoyed some attacking possession. Scrum-half and captain Laurie Essenhigh unleashed his trademark tap-and-go and weaving runs, and flanker Mike Butler got close to the line. Sandbach’s next try came from a lineout off a penalty in Winnington Park’s 22 and the maul formed before the ball was moved infield. With a penalty awarded, Essenhigh went quickly and offloaded to winger George Cole, who burst through for the try. After Essenhigh had passed, the skipper was taken down by a Winnington Park player, and the dangerous play was enough to warrant a red card.

Sandbach were leading 14–7 at the break and increased the lead early in the second half when Leese dummied a pass and weaved through the Winnington Park defence to score under the posts. The numerical advantage was showing when Sandbach were in full flow in attack. However, there was a reprieve for Park when they scored a try after working through phase play.

Sandbach were back in the opposition 22 and were looming near the tryline. Winnington Park had a player sent to the sin-bin, which would make defending even more difficult. Bowbeer got close to the line after a lineout, before the ball went wide and the overlap was too much, with Randle scoring on the wing. Randle converted his own try with an excellent kick to put Sandbach 28–12 ahead.

Soon after, Leese scored his second try, and Sandbach’s fifth, with an interception and run through from halfway. They attacked once more with both Cole and Randle making gains on their wings, however it was flanker Bromley who found the gap to score Sandbach’s sixth try.

Sandbach were running away with it when Verbickas scored his second try but there was still some fight left from the visitors. After a big run by their number 8 from a tap penalty, they advanced upfield and eventually scored their third try.

Verbickas, who had been non-stop all afternoon, almost scored a hat-trick as he ran through Park’s flailing defence, before unselfishly passing to Henry Mitchell, who was in support. It was the easiest of tries for the fly-half and it takes his season tally to five.

Winnington Park would score once more as would Sandbach. In the final attack of the game, Essenhigh ran through to score his seventeenth try of the season. The final score was 61–24 and after a brace of tries and a standout performance, Ben Verbickas was awarded the player of the match award. Matt Randle, with eight conversions and a try, scored 21 points, taking his points tally for the season to 199.

It was a big win for Sandbach, and when the other results came through, it was confirmed that they will be in the play-offs. With two games left, Sandbach are sitting in third place on 70 points. In the play-offs, second place will take on fifth at home, and third will take on fourth at home, with further fixtures for the winners. The opposition, and whether it is home or away, is still to be determined.

On Saturday, Sandbach take on Altrincham Kersal in the penultimate match of the league season. When it comes to away games, Sandbach are fifty-fifty this campaign, and with a home play-off fixture to aim for, and still a chance of securing second place, there is still plenty at stake.

Match report by Rhys Fullerton

NEXT MATCH
Altrincham Kersal 1st XV vs Sandbach 1st XV
Saturday 28th March
Stelfox Avenue, Timperley