Sandbach ran in eight tries in an emphatic victory over West Park (St Helens) on Saturday. Sandbach’s grip on a play-off place got even tighter with a bonus-point win, leaving them seven points from the top.

After they inflicted a Valentine’s Day mauling on Widnes two weeks ago, Sandbach’s focus quickly turned to West Park. With five league games remaining, the run-in is now in a decisive phase. Play-off places and potentially more are still up for grabs, meaning every match and every point are crucial.

When the teams last met in November, Sandbach were the runaway winners in an eleven-try rout. Saturday’s match was second from top against second from bottom, with West Park sitting seven points above the drop and equally desperate to secure a win.

Sandbach named an unchanged matchday eighteen, the same side that lined up in the win against Widnes. Captain Laurie Essenhigh, hooker Matt Davies and full-back Harry Leese have now started every league game this season, followed closely by prop Archie Lea who has seventeen starts and one appearance from the bench.

The eight tries were scored by Max Beadle, Ed Vitta, Leese, Essenhigh, Ben Verbickas, Mike Butler and Callum Oakden, who scored two. Matt Randle, Sandbach’s top points scorer this season, took his personal tally to 104 after converting three tries and Henry Mitchell converted another. Skipper Essenhigh now has fifteen tries to his name this campaign, taking his points total to 75.

Oakden opened the scoring after nine minutes when a quick tap-and-go penalty by Essenhigh put the lock in for the try. Beadle’s try came from a lineout drive, as did Oakden’s second. A charged-down kick and several phases earned Vitta his try and Sandbach led 0-22 at half-time.

In the second half, a quick penalty put Leese through for his score, but then a defensive stint was required to keep West Park at bay. A sniping run around the side of the ruck from Essenhigh led to his try and Sandbach’s sixth.

Try of the game came from Ben Verbickas on sixty-seven minutes. Deft hands from prop Beadle put the centre into a gap, which he sped through to score his fifth try of the season.

In the final five minutes, West Park picked up a consolation try before Butler powered over for the final try of the game. Mitchell’s conversion took the final score to 7-48. Ed Vitta was the recipient of the player of the match award.

All eyes turn to next week’s massive encounter with league leaders North Ribblesdale back at Bradwall Road, where Sandbach could potentially narrow the gap to two points. This is the biggest clash of the season and Sandbach know they must do all they can to secure a play-off slot. Vale of Lune sit two points behind Sandbach, with Burnage seven points and Douglas (I.O.M.) eleven, so a slip-up could be problematic. With just four games left in this intense and tight season, nothing is decided and everything remains up for grabs.

NEXT MATCH
Sandbach 1st XV Vs North Ribblesdale 1st XV
Saturday 7th March – Kick-off 3.00pm
Bradwall Road, Sandbach