Sandbach welcome top of the league Bromsgrove to Bradwall Road at the weekend, in what is an important game for both sides. Like Newport and Sheffield, Bromsgrove have lost just the two games this season but lead as a result of bonus points and are the league top point scorers, which tells you what kind of team they are. Certainly, player coach fly half Will Harris and skipper centre Ed Spalding are influential players for them, so Sandbach’s defence will need to be on point on Saturday. Traditionally games between the two sides are close, in the last campaign Sandbach won the home game but lost at Finstall Park, both within a score, so no reason to think it will be any different come Saturday.

Sandbach will be confident after a good win away last weekend at Broadstreet and with a few players returning from injury, as well as players back from university makes selection that bit more difficult. A decent crowd is expected with the Chairman’s Christmas lunch beforehand, at which old and new members, together with friends are all welcome. Fingers crossed that the weather is a bit more friendly than of recent and though Sandbach’s pitches are some of the best in the area, all this rain will not be pleasing ground secretary Rob Perkins. Whatever you have to play the conditions and hopefully a Christmas cracker will result in a win for the Bach, in their last home game of the year.