After two thrilling home derby wins, Sandbach travelled to Grove Park on Saturday to take on Manchester, in what was always going to be a tough test. Sandbach were the eventual winners, grinding out a win and making it three wins out of three to maintain a perfect start to their season. The Bach are now outright leaders at the top of the table.
From the get-go Sandbach were on the back foot when they gave away an early penalty. From a lineout, Manchester’s maul drove over the line to open the scoring.
The stop-start nature of the game was in place early on, with both teams conceding countless penalties. Sandbach had a lovely set piece move from a lineout, utilising their attacking line. A long pass to winger Elliot Morris looked promising but nothing came from it. It was an early positive sign.
Morris made further runs, as did scrum-half Laurie Essenhigh as Sandbach picked up a series of penalties in Manchester’s twenty-two. The home side were eventually awarded a yellow card for repeated infringements and it was a must for Sandbach to come away with something. From the lineout, George Perkins made a dent in Manchester’s defence and last week’s player of the match Will Bowbeer ran into contact in search of the try. With another penalty, Essenhigh went quickly and found prop Joe Ball, who barrelled over the line for the try. Matt Randle slotted the kick and Sandbach went 5-7 ahead.
From a Manchester lineout, Sandbach’s defence was robust. They didn’t allow them across the gain line and kept them out of the twenty-two. Another penalty and Manchester opted for a scrum, another familiar theme of the afternoon. The powerful scrum shoved Sandbach back but couldn’t produce anything more.
Sandbach’s Mike Barlow used all of his experience as he produced a well-executed and well-timed tackle on an unsuspecting Manchester attacker. Sandbach stole another lineout and Barlow almost produced a chance with a very slick offload as Sandbach tried to penetrate Manchester’s defence.
Manchester were then up in Sandbach’s half, picking up multiple penalties and continuing to go for the scrum, despite being in kicking distance. Sandbach had a player in the sin-bin and Perkins produced an excellent tackle as Manchester seemed to be running out of ideas. With the half at an end and another penalty, they finally opted for the posts. However, the kick sailed wide and the half ended with relief for Sandbach as Manchester failed to take advantage.
In the second half, things were becoming a little fraught with the referee speaking to both captains. Both teams exchanged possession but couldn’t break through either defence.
Sandbach looked to be playing a little freer. From a penalty, fly-half Henry Mitchell found the corner and from the lineout, the maul ensued. Sandbach got close to the line, but Manchester came away with a scrum penalty and cleared. However, there were more words from the referee and Sandbach had another lineout from 10m out. This time the maul drove over the line and Matt Davies went down for the important try.
Sandbach’s kick went wide and they were only one score ahead. Despite a strong Sandbach defence, Manchester took that chance with a try of their own. It was all square and with several penalties in the home side’s twenty-two, Sandbach went for the points, which Randle kicked to give them the lead once more.
Despite being behind, Manchester were playing more fluidly but the match continued to be a dogfight. Sandbach were down to fourteen-men after a yellow card and their defence was put to the test as Manchester went for a lineout. With the ball out of the maul, the carrier ran straight into Sandbach’s Jack Seddon and the subsequent phases were met with committed defenders. Seddon made another strong tackle and a phase later a Manchester attacker was held up and the maul was formed. Eventually a scrum penalty was awarded to Sandbach, with huge relief.
From the base of the scrum, Seddon took the ball and shot off on a blindside run and out of the twenty-two. Several phases later and with the clock in the red, Essenhigh booted the ball out.
It was a narrow 12-15 win and Sandbach ultimately deserved the victory. Jack Seddon was awarded the player of the match award.
Sandbach couldn’t play their expansive attacking rugby, but they found another way to dig deep and grind out the win.
On Saturday, Sandbach stay on the road as they travel to Warrington, who lost narrowly in their opening game of the season to Manchester but won their last match. Sandbach need to ensure that they keep their momentum going and go for four from four.

NEXT MATCH
Warrington 1st XV vs Sandbach 1st XV
Saturday 17th October
Grappenhall Village Sports Club, Warrington

Upcoming Matches

League

17 Oct KO 00:00