Sandbach travel to South Yorkshire for what will be their last game of 2021, when they play Doncaster Phoenix on Saturday. Heartened by their performance last weekend, in their win over league leaders Bromsgrove, Sandbach will be under no illusion, as this also will be a difficult game. Though Phoenix haven’t had quite the results of the previous years, they have recently hit a bit of form and most of their games have been within a score or two. Traditionally they have always played an open and expansive game, being particularly dangerous on the counterattack. But more recently changes of coaches and additions, built around the experienced former Championship Doncaster Knights prop, Richard List, has seen them move to a more all court game. The match is being played at nearby Thornesians RUFC’s ground, as the Knights are playing at home that day at the Castlepark Stadium, and due to Covid concerns and risks to professional players sharing facilities, the game has been moved.

Sandbach are likely to have a change or two come Saturday, due to players work commitments, but as the Saxons win away at Macclesfield showed, they do have decent strength in depth in most positions. Sandbach are also able to call upon a few students, back home for Christmas if required and as the summer showed there is some real talent there if called upon. The bus is leaving early in the morning, but if you can’t make that, there still should be some rugby at Bradwall Road, with an internal Festive Festival. This gives the opportunity for all 2nd, 3rd, 4th, XV players, touch and walking rugby players, players from our U16s, U17s, and U18s, together with those returning from university or just visiting for Christmas, to have a run around. Let’s hope for a good day and a win on the road, so as not to spoil our Christmas.