Sandbach were disappointed to miss out on cup glory on Tuesday evening, where despite edging both territory and possession, they were unable to fully overcome a poor start in difficult conditions. It was always going to be close, with both teams evenly placed in their respective leagues and the inclement weather very much making it a leveller. However, credit to Wirral who having taken the initiative early on, defended resolutely and managed the conditions better, with fly half James Annetts being critical to their cause. Sandbach were left to rue a slow start and some critical decisions going against them and despite a late penalty chance to take the final into extra time, once more they were the wrong side of a tight game.

The game kicked off on a sodden Winnington Park pitch, in steady drizzle, that persisted for most of the game. Sandbach got off to the worst possible start, when after just two minutes of play, Wirral took the lead, as Annetts wrong footed the Bach midfield defence, to scoot under the posts. He added the conversion to his own try and was then instrumental in controlling the early phases, with his big boot finding the corners. After that Sandbach did make some headway, but were finding handling difficult, so it was frustrating as they then went further behind after quarter of an hour, as they unnecessarily conceded a five-metre scrum from another long punt. From this Wirral again made inroads into the Sandbach midfield and quick hands saw left winger Brooks in at the corner. Annetts adding a fine conversion. Then just before the half hour mark Annetts added a penalty, as Wirral took a seventeen-point lead and Sandbach were looking very much against it.

Slowly Sandbach started to exert themselves, with their scrum dominant and this saw them camped on the Wirral line, for the last ten minutes of the half. Sandbach had several attempts at a push over try, with Wirral reduced to conceding penalties, changing their props and going down to fourteen men, as they desperately tried to keep the Bach eight out. Though despite the incessant pressure and numerous penalties and rest scrummages, referee Ben Moore, clearly didn’t think the infringements warranted a penalty try. As a result Wirral’s grim defence was only relieved, by the timely half time whistle.

Sandbach made several changes at the break, with regular inside centre Mike Barlow entering the fray and he was central to their fight back. Five minutes after the restart following one of his typical bullocking runs, Sandbach once more worked their way to the Wirral line. Then fellow replacement, young England U18 National Development squad man Ewan Ashman, forced his way over, underneath the posts. Benny Elliot knocking over the simple conversion. Momentum was beginning to go Sandbach’s way and when centre Jack Leech charged down a Wirral clearance kick, Barlow was again on hand to gather the loose ball and sprint home from forty metres out. Elliot again added the conversion and Sandbach were just three points down, with just under half an hour to play.

As it turned out, that was as good as it got, as despite Sandbach having the general territorial advantage, Wirral were able to effectively slow down the ball at the breakdown and prevent any real momentum being generated. Sandbach emptied the seven-man bench to try and save the game, but with this lost a little of their cohesion and did have a penalty chance, with five to go. The kick was forty metres out but in front of the sticks, but given the conditions, never going to be easy. So, when Benny Elliot’s effort slid wide of the right upright, pretty much with it went Sandbach’s chances, as Wirral then ate up the clock with a series of drive to see the game out.

The last couple of games will have been a bitter pill for the Bach to swallow, with both matches being ones that on another day they should have comfortably won. The squad nevertheless has made progress this campaign, with young players gaining experience, which will accelerate their improvement next season. The team is still developing and moving forward and providing that they can keep the group together and with a couple of additions, there is great potential to grow and turn these narrow defeats into victories. Then who knows where the team could end up next season.