For the second week in a row Sandbach found themselves edged out in yet another tight encounter, when once again they were unable to snatch it at the death. As against Newport in the previous Saturday fixture, they were again pressing strongly in the final minutes, with the home side down to fourteen men. But it was not to be, as this time a speculative drop goal attempt from fly half Benny Elliot fell short and with it Sandbach’s late rally fell agonisingly short. Overall Sandbach’s ill-discipline once more proved costly and though some decisions against them could be regarded as contentious, it has happened too regularly this season, to not be an area that does need some attention.

Sandbach had started the game with young Ewan Ashman making his debut at hooker, following on from his recent selection for the England U18 National Development squad. Further changes were also made just before the kick-off, as Sam Winstanley pulled a hamstring in the warm up and this saw Luke Butler in at full back with Joe Jepps taking his place on the bench. Not surprisingly after this, Sandbach didn’t make the best of starts and after three penalties in three minutes, they were soon behind to a Llewelyn Williams three pointer. Sandbach hit back soon after with a penalty of their own, Benny Elliot comfortably slotting over. The restart proved crucial however, as from the resulting ruck Sandbach scrum half Mark Bird had his clearance kick charged down by his opposite number Bladen and a kindly bounce saw him scoring in at the corner. Williams adding the conversion.

Sandbach then began to exert themselves and narrowed the gap with a second Elliot penalty, but discipline continued to be an issue as another Williams penalty extended Bridgnorth’s lead and resulted in a warning for the visitors. So, it was no surprise that only a minute later prop forward Gareth Caen was sent to the bin for another high tackle decision against Sandbach. After this Sandbach were just content to keep the ball, eating up the clock. This policy was rewarded with a penalty of their own, and Elliot again was successful, making the score 13 v 9 with just a couple of minutes to go to the break. However, Bridgnorth ran Sandbach’s restart clearance kick back and though there looked a suspicion of blocking of the would-be tackler, critically referee Andy Smith didn’t think so. As a result, Bridgnorth had their second try in the last significant play of the half.

The second half followed much the same as the first, with both teams willing to play, but small errors and strong defences being generally on top. Penalties continued to blight the visitors and two further Williams efforts stretched the Shropshire team’s lead to 24 v 9. Now the physical nature of the game was beginning to take its toll, which saw replacement flanker Burton leave the field and several stoppages for treatment. Gradually Sandbach began to impose themselves as the North’s big forwards tired and with fifteen to go, Joe Gammage scored a fine individual try. Taking a smart offload from replacement winger Joe Jepps, the centre chipped over the covering full back, to start the fight back. Benny Elliot knocking over a difficult conversion. Momentum was beginning to swing and when fellow centre Mike Barlow forced his way over with five to go, the partisan home crowd were becoming distinctly worried. A quick dropped goal conversion by Elliot reducing the gap to just one point. Sandbach then pressed strongly to complete what would have been a remarkable comeback, and Bridgnorth then went down to fourteen themselves, in their desperate attempts to hang on. Sandbach were however perhaps guilty of not showing sufficient composure as the clock ticked down and fearing once more a penalty decision potentially going against them, opted to go for a long-range drop goal attempt after a series of drives. It was always going to have to be an exceptional strike, sadly this just wasn’t the case and with it the chance of victory was lost.

As last week Sandbach have the consolation of a losing bonus point and can be proud of their fighting spirit and commitment. There were certainly a couple of key turning points in the game and the rub of the green did seem to go against them, but this is often the case, when sides play away from home. In the final analysis the penalty count perhaps proved to be the difference, in not just points conceded, but also in loss of good potential scoring field position. The upcoming fixtures don’t get any easier, with a visit to Nuneaton next week and Sandbach will be looking to break their duck there, when they visit the Liberty Way stadium.