On Sunday January 29th, Sandbach U14s came up against Newport (Salop). Newport turned out to be an attractive, high-skills, well-coached team, who Sandbach did well to compete against for large portions of the game.
Newport started quickly, and great ball-handling allowed them to use the width of the pitch very quickly, frequently creating the extra man on the wing. Great tackling from Sandbach led to turnovers, but our ball handling looked poor in comparison to Newport, and Sandbach were unable to capitalise. Doing to Sandbach what they had done to both teams the previous week, Newport maintained excellent defensive line speed, and put our back line under pressure. Eventually this led to one turnover too many, and Newport scored to make it 0-5, a lead they rapidly doubled when poor tackling from the pack allowed a Newport player to run through unopposed from the 10-metre line – 0-10.
There followed a longish passage of open play, with good defense from both sides keeping the game close to the halfway line. However, Newport’s pressing eventually bore fruit, and they were able to add to their lead – 0-15.
Sandbach backs had started to look more threatening with ball in hand, and a great carry from Isaac Chennells finally got Sandbach some decent possession in Newport’s 22. Persistent narrow pressure failed to penetrate the Newport line, but did draw them offside, and from the penalty Ru Morgan was able (just!) to make it over the line and close the gap to 5-15 at half time.
Newport kicked off the second half with a deep drop out to the left of the Sandbach 22. After uncertainty about who was going to take it on the ball fell to Toby Bywater, and he made a fantastic straight run, making a good 10 metres after contact through great body position and hard leg-drive. Rapid ball from the ensuing ruck – for once behind the Newport defense – allowed the Sandbach backs to switch the ball to the wing where, looping from 10, Ru Morgan received the ball. A kick-and-chase put the Newport full back under pressure, and Ru was able to use his speed and strength to regain the ball after a couple of short fly-hacks, and score under the post. Will Dale converted, to bring the scores tantalisingly close at 12-15.
Newport repaid the favour immediately from the kick off, with great jackalling giving them possession behind the Sandbach defence, and leading to a try in the corner – again no conversion, so 12-20 to Newport. There followed a passage of scruffy play. First, Sandbach were penalised for being in front of the kick-off from the restart (after repeated warnings from the ref.). Sandbach won the ensuing scrumagainst the head (well done pack!), but the lightning-fast line speed of the Newport backs allowed them to intercept a pass from Ru Morgan, and gave them a break-away try from the ½ way line, which they converted for 12-27. A further five points followed rapidly – the constant pressure from Newport starting to tell on the tackling from Sandbach, with a series of poor misses leading to the try – 12-32.
Another try from Newport looked likely to come from a sustained period of play in the Sandbach 22. Even with ball in hand, Sandbach looked under pressure, trying to play it out from more or less on the goal line. However, this tactic payed off after Isaac Chennells made another fantastic line break, and carried the ball to the Newport 22. Narrow pressure this time carried the ball over the Newport line, but Sandbach were held up, leading to a 5-yard scrum. Toby Bywater picked up from number 8, and made yards before popping the ball to Ru Morgan in the tackle, and allowing Ru to complete his hat-trick, and bring the score to 17-32. Sandbach by now were looking ragged, and were going backwards in possession. The pressure from Newport paid off with another intercepted pass from Ru Morgan, and further missed tackles leading to the final try of the game, converted to bring the final score to 17-39.
Despite the beating, there were good things to take away from this game for Sandbach. There was some good direct running from backs and forwards, and at times good rucking, while in the tight, the scrum held its own throughout the game. However, at times, the Sandbach tackling left a lot to be desired, and the fitness of a number of players left them well off the pace for much of the game. However, the score is creditable against a well-organised intelligent team with two or three outstanding rugby players.