Though the scoreline looks fairly emphatic, there was plenty to be proud of from the youthful Sandbach team, that had over half the team different from the one that started the previous week, in the Cheshire Cup final. It was the first round of the much-debated new RFU cup competition, the Papa John’s Community Cup and with the fixtures only being decided on the 11th March, giving clubs little time to plan and get sponsorship, the reaction from the grass roots has been lukewarm at best. With plenty of players being unavailable for a variety of reasons, Sandbach elected to look at some of the young talent coming through and as a result seven players made their 1st XV debuts on Saturday. Nearly all of these have come through the Mini / Junior ranks at the club, but though their skill levels and technique were there to see, there is still a fair bit of physical development to come enabling them to compete against experienced and strong running outfits, like Cleckheaton. At least the young players will have learnt from the experience and will be better for it in the future, while the coaching team too, will be more aware of the potential and areas that need further development.

Sandbach didn’t make the best of starts and fluffed the initial kick off receipt, which subsequently resulted in a penalty, which Cleck’s Tom Breakwell converted. He then repeated the feat ten minutes later as the home team continued their early ascendency. They then added their first try through centre Tom Hainsworth, from a set play down the blind side, off a dominant scrum. Sandbach showed that when they had the ball they could trouble the West Yorkshire outfit with their fast hands and this was rewarded when flanker Tom Namgauds crashed over from a quick tap penalty, to make the score 11 v 5 after twenty minutes.

Play was fairly even then for a good period as Cleckheaton lost their South African player coach Thiu Barnard to the bin for ten minutes, but once back to full strength Sandbach conceded a second try as Cleck flanker Wilson crashed over. Sandbach showed their inexperience to let in a couple of soft tries just before the half, with hooker Bennett and winger Haywood scoring. With the first of these being converted by Breakwell it made it 28 v 5 at the break.

Chris Jackson, Mike Butler and Reefe Davies all came on in the second half to make their first starts, with rookie flanker Jack Oakes having taken a knock. It was still Cleckheaton’s power game pretty much to the fore as they added three further tries through second rows Barnard and Plunkett and then hooker Bennett again. Sandbach did have their moments with Ryan Barrett sprinting in from the half way line and Butler crashing over after an excellent series of phase plays. Much like several times this season, unfortunately they didn’t quite manage to get the try bonus point they probably deserved for their efforts, but at least they can take some consolation that they finished strong and were looking likely to do so at the end.

So a bit of a learning curve for the Bach, but in a fortnight when Stockport arrive at Bradwall Road for the next round, Sandbach should be something more like their usual team starting. However if the coaches wish to retain a few of the young talent on display on Saturday, giving them a bit more experience, no one would argue, as the long-term benefits will surely pay-off in the future.