Sandbach 1st XV 78-18 West Park (St Helens) 1st XV
Saturday 8th November – Kick-off 2.15pm
Northern Division – Regional 2 North West
Bradwall Road, Sandbach

After a week’s rest, Sandbach were back firing on all cylinders in an eleven-try rout over West Park (St Helens) on Saturday. The hosts were rampant in attack and secured the bonus point in just over thirty minutes.

It was an explosive start from Sandbach when Ryan Arundale scored a try in the first minute. Scrum-half Laurie Essenhigh went quickly from an early penalty to get within five metres. The ball moved to Arundale and the dependable second row went over for the score. Matt Randle converted and Sandbach were 7-0 up.

Sandbach continued to put pressure on West Park and were back attacking minutes later. They shifted the ball across the line before winger Elliot Morris made a run. Morris was tackled but offloaded from the ground to Harry Leese to put the full-back through for the second try of the afternoon.

West Park found some composure and settled into the game. They had a chance to earn some points from a quick penalty, however, Sandbach’s defence was strong and Callum Oakden, followed by Leese, made try saving tackles. West Park tried to push the ball out wide, but Morris read the play and intercepted on Sandbach’s twenty-two. There was no stopping the winger as he raced the length of the field to score his first try of the afternoon.

West Park took three points from a penalty and scored a try of their own as the clock passed the twenty-minute mark, but Sandbach kept the pressure on. The bonus point try was scored by inside centre Ed Vitta. A deflected kick by Leese found its way to Morris who gave chase again before finding Arundale in support. A West Park defender held the forward back, but he managed to offload to Vitta on the wing as he scored his third try of the season. Both teams took three points each from penalties and the half ended 29-11.

Just as they did at the start of the match, Sandbach began the second half by scoring an early try. West Park were trying to run the ball out of their half but Sandbach won the ball back and pushed forward. Vitta made a run towards the line and after a dummy, he passed to Morris who went over with ease.

West Park managed to steal the restart but a knock on gave Sandbach the ball back through a scrum. Moments later Arundale made another carry and moved the ball to Morris. The winger combined with Essenhigh, who jinked out wide and the skipper scored Sandbach’s sixth try.

It was a long way back for West Park despite their full-back scoring a try and moving their points tally to eighteen. Sandbach got another try through second row Callum Oakden who went over from close range. Sandbach were relentless and produced more carries with runs from Oakden and George Perkins. Replacement Spike Street threatened with a quick tap and go penalty, and Arundale made another big push up field. Outside centre George Cole put the game further out of reach as he went over the line for a try on sixty-two minutes. Randle slotted the conversion and Sandbach were 57-18 ahead.

There were more points on the board when Vitta scored his second try of the day and Morris went over for his hat trick. As the game moved into the final ten minutes, both teams were tiring and it was one of the quieter periods of the afternoon. The eleventh and final try of the game came from Cole in the last few minutes, taking his try tally for the season to five. The match ended 78-18 and Ryan Arundale was confirmed as the player of the match.

It was an impressive attacking display from Sandbach, with the win putting them seven points clear at the top. With another rest weekend ahead, Sandbach will now prepare for a trip to North Yorkshire, where they’ll play North Ribblesdale. The newly promoted side have had a fine start to the season but dropped down to third after losing to Winnington Park on Saturday. Expect an exciting and competitive clash as Sandbach look to maintain their strong position at the top of the table.

Match report by Rhys Fullerton

Next match:
North Ribblesdale 1st XV Vs Sandbach 1st XV
Saturday 22nd November
Grove Park, Settle