Sandbach returned to winning ways, with their first ever victory at Liberty Way, with a deserved triumph in artic conditions. On one of the coldest days that you could imagine, the boys in red and green gave a display to warm their supporter’s hearts and were unfortunate not to win more emphatically, in a game they largely dominated. The weather however was the major feature, where the zero-degree temperature and the strong eastern breeze down the length of the field, together with the wind chill factor resulted in it feeling much colder. This made handling and ball retention difficult in the extreme, but two Benny Elliot penalties and a try for Cam Crampton steered Sandbach into a 0 v 11 half time lead. A late Ewan Ashman try in the second half sealing the victory.

Sandbach had a more familiar look again this week with seven changes to the starting line-up, that includes the welcome return of skipper Dan Stubbs. The game was originally scheduled to be played on the Nuneaton Town football stadium ground, but due to the wet weather was switched to the outside pitch, where the exposed nature certainly didn’t help proceedings. Sandbach had first use of the breeze and by and large were camped in the Nuneaton half as a result. Nuneaton for their part were just keen to frustrate the visitors, whilst they had the advantage. The home side being content to just keep the ball and go into contact, generally slowing play down, with injured players going down on a regular basis. With plenty of referee whistle and the stop/start nature, this resulted in a fragmented first quarter, with Sandbach also suffering the loss of flanker Ross Sutherland, who took a nasty bump to the side of his cheek.

Sandbach eventually took the lead after twenty-five minutes from turn over ball, with fast hands releasing winger Jack Leech, who was held up just short of the line, however scrum half Crampton was there in support to take his pop pass and dive over in the corner. Benny Elliot missed the difficult conversion but was successful minutes later with a penalty from the half way line, that sailed over with something to spare, indicating all you need to know about the strength of the wind. Kicking was not however easy in the conditions, but Elliot added a second penalty on the stroke of half time, again from a good distance out.

Facing the wind in the second half Sandbach had much more of the ball and were perhaps unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty try, as they began to dominate the scrum and pressure began to pay off. On a couple occasions they looked certain to score, but a loss of control at the base of the scrum and an interception yards from the Nuns try line, kept them out. The interception did result in Nuneaton making one of their few incursions into Sandbach’s territory and did ensue in their only score of the afternoon, when player coach Huw Thomas knocked over a penalty. Sandbach generally had the measure of the home side and despite all players struggling to keep warm, put the match to bed when the England U18 National Development squad flanker Ashman, was driven over from a lineout with three minutes to go. Several backs joining in the maul to drive him over and one suspects this may have been as much to keep warm, as anything.

Both sides and supporters deserve credit for battling it out to the end, given the conditions but Sandbach always had the upper hand against an injury ravaged Nuneaton team. Sandbach will be looking to keep the momentum going when they have a welcome home fixture, as second placed Peterborough Lions travel to Bradwall Road next Saturday. The Lions will be keen to avenge a defeat against Sandbach earlier in the season and as they also chase the play-off place, will certainly be well motivated. Sandbach have a top four target themselves, so will hope that the short cold snap will have gone by then, as they run into the last few critical games of the season.