For the first fixture of 2017 a large and eager squad of 26 boys travelled to the Whitby Sports and Social Club (made famous on Phoenix Nights) to take on Ellesmere Port. The pre-match training and warm-up was contested fiercely with Sam Vale (dead leg) and Jack Malpas (bruised hand) sustaining minor injuries just before kick-off, with Colin revising his selection to match. However, with the game barely a minute old, Toby Bywater sustained an injury (bleeding nose) and this forced yet another change. Sandbach started brightly and much of the early game was played deep in the opponent’s half with the Ellesmere Port playmaker inside–centre kicking high to test the Sandbach back-line. Good takes from Oli Barlow and Isaac Chennells amongst others enabled Sandbach to pass the ball down the back-line and run it back quickly. Feeling the effects of his leg, Sam Vale came off half-way through the first third and was replaced by Will Dale.

Ellesmere Port were now offering more in attack and stout defence from Sandbach enabled a turnover ball and a fantastic defensive kick from Josh Clarke from a tight angle cleared the ball up-field. Sandbach then returned to the opponent’s half and from some sustained pressure it felt like a score had to come. Only some desperate defence forced Angus Walker into touch a few metres short of the line. Winning the line out, Ellesmere Port kicked again and this time Josh Clarke with smart thinking and playing an offside advantage chipped towards the posts with Barlow collecting before he was tackled and held up at the posts. From the resulting ruck the ball was picked up by Angus Walker to go over to the right of the posts from a couple of metres, with the conversion by Clarke. With that the whistle blew for the end of an exhilarating first 20 minutes. Overall, the forwards had played well, with a solid scrum and competitive rucking, with good recycling, quick ball and line speed from the backs. Ellesmere Port 0 – Sandbach 7.

During the break Isaac Christian and Will Gordon were replaced by Jack Malpas and Cam Donald, with Toby Bywater also back on the pitch. The match resumed with fury and Sandbach turned defence into attack with a fine turnover then clearance kick that caught Ellesmere Port offside. The Sandbach forwards used the penalty to attack again and were held up at the posts only for the ball to be quickly recycled and passed out wide for a try in the corner for Isaac Chennells. The angle and distance were, however, too far for the conversation to succeed. Ellesmere Port 0 – Sandbach 12.

After excellent performances, George Harding, Luca Caccamo and Kieran Yarwood replaced Hugh Porteous, Oli Barlow and Charlie Pollock with 10 minutes of the 2nd third remaining. Ellesmere Port fought back furiously and Sandbach showed staunch defence, although some persistent handling in the ruck by Ellesmere Port went unnoticed by the officials. Finally the blond Ellesmere Port inside centre went on a jinking run and evaded good tackling efforts to score in the corner, but with no conversion. Ellesmere Port 5 – Sandbach 12.

Sandbach seemed to lose a little concentration and as Ellesmere Port attacked again, our defence lined up asymmetrically and conceded a try from a ruck 5 metres out which was converted this time. Ellesmere Port 12 – Sandbach 12.

With the start of the final third, Sandbach made further changes with Josh Clarke, Toby Bywater, Luca Caccamo, Kieran Yarwood, and Xander Sumner making way for Max Beasley, Tom Smith, Sam Vale, Oli Barlow and Hugh Porteous. Later in the final 3rd Isaac Christian replaced Angus Walker and Josh Clarke rejoined the field. Ellesmere Port had brought on 4 very large and tall boys up front but the Sandbach scrum worked well to cope with the increased weight. Ellesmere Port continued to press and were close to the line when they were held up. The attacker appeared to make a double (or even triple) movement that went unpunished; however in the next phase Sandbach turned over the ball superbly and Ru Morgan was able to make a great clearance kick upfield. However, Ellesmere Port surged back and scored another try that they converted to take the lead for the first time in the match with barely 5 minutes remaining. Ellesmere Port 19 – Sandbach 12.

But Sandbach weren’t finished yet and, urged on by their team mates and parents on the side-lines, they threw everything into a final attack. Ellesmere Port appeared to carry the ball over their own line and touch down. From the resulting 5 yard scrum the ball was kicked up-field to be collected by Clarke who passed to Charlie Pollock who threw an amazing looping pass out wide to Barlow to finish off beautifully in the corner and the crowd went wild. From a difficult angle, Isaac Christian was unlucky not to convert the try and the final whistle blew. Ellesmere Port 19 – Sandbach 17.

Perhaps feeling bad that just prior to the final Ellesmere Port try, Sandbach had 2 advantages which were not called as over before transgressing and giving Ellesmere Port a penalty which they scored from, the referee decided the game was a draw as conversions didn’t count. Well done to all the squad for a fantastic performance, almost unrecognisable from the one here this time last year.

As the boys compared notes on the number and types of swear words used most profusely by the opposition, there was just time to gatecrash someone else’s changing room for a quick shower. The boys then tucked into sausage and chips and Will Gordon’s birthday cake. The cake was excellent but the sausages served illustrates why we need new legislation for minimum sausage standards. Again well done to the entire squad for a positive and committed performance against strong opponents.

Squad

Toby Bywater
Hugh Porteous
Isaac Christian
Sam Vale
Will Dale
Max Beasley
Will Gordon
Dan Bayes
Harry Bell
George Harding
Angus Walker
Cam McGlincy
Alexander Sumner (Xander)
Charlie Pollock
Isaac Chennells
Luca Cacamo
Michael Bygrave
Matthew Hall
Cam Donald
Ru Morgan
Josh Young
Jack Malpass
Tom Smith
Kieran Yarwood
Josh Clarke
Oli Barlow