Rugby returned to Bradwall Road on Saturday with a well-rested 1st XV raring to get back into action. Laurie Essenhigh was back in the team after running out with Caldy last weekend. The scrum-half was on a short loan to the Championship side and played in their Premiership Cup match against Newcastle Falcons.

The visitors, Eccles, haven't won since November and were sitting at the bottom of the table but would still be looking to test the Bach in what was going to be a wet afternoon of rugby.

It took three minutes for Sandbach to slice open the Eccles defence and score the first try. The Bach were attacking in the opposition’s 22 as captain Jimmy Gore and Ryan Arundale worked through the phases. Mike Butler got hold of the ball and slipped through a gap to ease over the line for the try. Matt Randle converted to give Sandbach a promising early lead.

Sandbach found themselves back in Eccles half five minutes later with a lineout from a penalty. Prop Dylan Sibanda took the ball into the tackle before it found its way to Callum Oakden who powered through to score the second try of the afternoon.

Eccles were struggling to contain Sandbach and another attacking lineout in their 22 led to the third try. This time it was Arundale, on his return to the first team, who scored in the corner. A difficult kick, which was slickly executed by Randle, put the Bach into comfortable lead at 21-0 after 13 minutes.

Sandbach misjudged the restart and Eccles got themselves into an attacking position, trying desperately to get some points on the board. Eccles efficiently moved the ball across the line and it was the Bach’s turn to defend, however, the move led to nothing when they went into touch.

The vital bonus point was secured before the half hour mark as Randle went over on the wing. Arundale collected a kick from Eccles and rode into the tackle. The ball went out wide and the winger slipped through for his sixth try of the season. He converted once more to give Sandbach a 28-0 lead.

Minutes later Eccles picked up a yellow card and with a penalty 10m out, it was inevitable that Sandbach would head for the line. George Perkins got hold of the ball and carried it over for the try.

From the restart, fly-half Henry Mitchell returned the ball with a fantastic 50:22 kick, which trickled into touch gifting Sandbach another promising lineout. Eccles thwarted that attack but moments later the home side were attacking again. Eccles didn’t make touch from a penalty kick and Eliott Morris was quickly on a diagonal run across the pitch. Arundale took the ball through contact before providing a wonder offload to Perkins. The youngster was home free and splashed over the line for his second of the day and his fifth try in four games. Randle was sharp off the tee once more and the Bach were out of sight by half time with a commanding 42-0 lead.

Sandbach started the second half as they did the first and four minutes in Randle earned another try. A fine run from full-back Harry Leese found Randle in support on the wing. The winger chipped the ball through, rounded the flailing Eccles defence and swept up the ball after a lucky bounce to score.

After a series of penalties to Eccles in Sandbach’s half, the Bach eventually stole the ball and a big kick was chased down by Morris. Eccles brought down the winger, but George Cole was chasing and he was able to get the ball down over the line to increase the score to 52-0.

It was beginning to get scrappy and the rain didn’t help as the penalty count increased for both teams. Despite a strong defensive effort from Sandbach, Eccles were rewarded with a try of their own as their flanker Damola Ayanlaja-Lowo found a gap for the score.

Sandbach’s final try came on the 70-minute mark as the formidable Jack Seddon received the ball from Max Beadle on the wing. Seddon’s offload to Kieron Murphy was perfectly timed and the replacement went over unopposed.

In the dying minutes, with another yellow card for Eccles, hooker Matt Davies, on his fifteenth appearance this season, bounced off a tackle as Sandbach had one last attack. The forwards were punching to the line but to no avail. Eccles got the ball back but with the length of the pitch ahead of them and some very tired legs, they opted to kick to touch to end the match. The final score was 57-7 with George Cole taking home the player of the match award.

It was a comfortable win for Sandbach, who remain top of the table on points difference. The Bach have a free weekend ahead of them before a tough visit to Lancaster as they face Vale of Lune. Sandbach must come away with five points if they are to continue to push for promotion.

Match report by Rhys Fullerton

Next match:
Vale of Lune 1st XV Vs Sandbach 1st XV
Saturday 1st March
Powderhouse Lane, Lancaster