True Grit

Sandbach produced a sensational performance to come from eighteen points down in the first half, scoring a late try to round off their comeback with a 26 v 21 victory. The win was all the more remarkable as at that stage they looked like they were in for a bit of a drubbing, with Newport appearing in complete control. But heads never dropped and eventually the true character of the team shone through, to show there is more to rugby at this level, than money and coaches with walky-talkies.

For the second week in a row Sandbach didn’t make the best of starts and it was the visitors who dominated the early exchanges, as they had a virtual monopoly of the ball. Sandbach certainly didn’t help themselves by twice missing touch from penalties, so it was no surprise when the big and physical Newport took the lead after six minutes. A mismatch found a back against a forward and the visitors fly half Monty Maule broke through to put second row Parker under the posts. Newport’s Holder added the conversion and they were up and running. Things took a further turn for the worse as Sandbach’s prop Gaz Caen was yellow carded for infringing at the breakdown in the red zone and Newport made the home side suffer, with centre Perry crossing for their second try as they made use of the extra man. Holder again converting.

Sandbach showed that they weren’t going to lie down and having now gained a bit of ball, were starting to test the Newport defence. This resulted in Newport going down to fourteen as well, for a similar infringement in the red scoring zone and soon after Sandbach at least got themselves on the scoreboard, with a Benny Elliot penalty.
After thirty-three minutes it was still looking grim, as Newport scored again, as the former Longton man, Fijian Hendry Vaka scored his usual try against Sandbach, from a set “chopper” move after a mid-field scrum. Sandbach did however reduce the deficit just before the break with another Elliot penalty, to go in 6 v 21 down at the break.

Having absorbed large periods of pressure in the first half after the break Sandbach gradually began to assert themselves, as the pace of the game eased and the Newport big men began to blow. Gradually Sandbach began to build and ten minutes in they exploited the space out wide and winger Joe Jepps was in to score. The reliable boot of Benny Elliot reducing the deficit, narrowing the gap to 13 v 21. Sensing they were not having it all their own way now, Newport elected to kick for goal minutes later, but the omens were in Sandbach’s favour as Holder’s attempt hit the posts and Sandbach were able to clear. Sandbach kept plugging away, cheered on by a large crowd and they further whittled away at the lead with two more Elliot penalties, to leave it delicately poised at 19 v21 with ten minutes to go.

With five minutes on the clock winger Elliot Morris got the crucial try as he intercepted a Newport pass out wide and shot the fifty yards to the line for the score. Elliot knocked over the conversion to ensure that Newport now needed a converted try to win it. What followed was a thunderous last few minutes, as Sandbach survived a late onslaught, as the visitors battered away at the home line. After what seemed an eternity Newport eventually knocked the ball on and that signalled the end of the game and just reward for all of Sandbach’s squad of eighteen, who displayed the critical team spirit and exceptional desire to win.

This was a courageous display by the Bradwall Road boys and the coaches Byron McGuigan and Rob Webber must feel really proud of them and the work they have put in. This being a bit of icing on the cake for McGuigan, who earlier in the week was selected for the Scottish squad and the forthcoming Autumn Internationals. There is still work to do however and next week’s visit of Nuneaton is likely to be just as difficult, however Sandbach know that if they show the same level of commitment, and character they are capable of beating anyone in the League on their day.