Home Record Still Intact

Sandbach bounced back from their disappointment of losing to Nuneaton last weekend, to overcome a stubborn Paviors outfit, in a solid performance at Bradwall Road. The win maintained Sandbach’s 100% home record and two tries from wingers Elliott Morris and Will Sant, added to four penalty goals from fly half Mark Bird, securing the victory. Continuous rain over the previous thirty hours, meant that wet conditions were always going to influence the game. Fortunately, the rain stopped as the game commenced and the pitch held up exceptionally well, which is a testament to Sandbach’s excellent facilities and the fine work of Ground Secretary Rob Perkins and Groundsman Richard “Elvis” Vaughan.

Sandbach kicked off with the slope in their favour and were soon in the ascendancy, generally having the upper hand in the set piece, despite Paviors having some solid looking fellows in the pack. This led to penalty kicks in their favour and the precise kicking to touch from new full back Jonny Edwards, meant field position was largely in the home sides favour. Mark Bird opened the scoring with a penalty after ten minutes, but Sandbach then suffered the loss of flanker Josh Longson with what looked like a serious wrist injury. Young flanker Alex Bishop came on to further enhance his burgeoning reputation and Sandbach continued to challenge the obdurate Paviors defence. Sandbach did create a couple of decent chances, as first winger Will Sant broke through but was unable to finish the opening off. Then prop Monty Weatherby lost the ball in contact when crossing the line, following a fine Jack Leech break. So Sandbach had to settle for a couple more penalty goals from Bird, to go in at the break nine nil up.

The second half followed much as the first with the wet conditions continuing to dictate the nature of the game, with both sides trying to establish field position and teams losing possession at critical moments. Eventually Sandbach did however cross the whitewash after fifty minutes, with a penalty decision in their favour, they spun it wide and Morris was in at the corner. Bird later increased the lead with his fourth successful penalty kick of the afternoon. Sandbach completed the scoring with fifteen to go as having battered away unsuccessfully at the line, they again spun it wide for Sant to go over in the opposite corner. The visitors mounted a late challenge, including a couple of attacking lineouts, but the Sandbach defence against the drive was solid, as they held on to shut out the visitors.

To hold Paviors to nil was a big positive for the Sandbach boys, given that they had scored 118 points in their previous two games. Sandbach were further lifted with a 27 v 0 win for the Saxons against Wirral, which moved them to the top of the Cotton Traders Championship table, though they have played a game more than most in that league. Sandbach now have a rest week, enabling them to watch England in the World Cup final, before resuming action with a trip to Peterborough Lions, in a fortnights time.