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Sat 16 Mar 2024 · Regional 1 North West
Sandbach
1st XV
24
37
Tries: R James, T Akehurst, B Brooks, A DonConversions: M Williams (2)Penalties: M Williams (2)Drop Goals: B Brooks (2)Yellow Carded: J Stead, H Long , L Hayes, J Adnams
Ben Brooks Steals the Game for Wirral
Andrew Broadbent25 Mar - 16:12
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An important game for both sides as Sandbach look to avoid relegation and Wirral looked to maintain their winning run.
This was an interesting game as events unfolded during the game. It was important for Sandbach to win to avoid the possibility of being in the relegation places given their next game is away at Rossendale, Wirral are keen to keep their winning run going.
Wirral pack only had changes in the back row with JOSH STEAD, CHRIS BURROWS and CHRIS SPEED playing: the backs were as last game. The interest in the subs saw the return of MATT DALTON who has returned to rugby after being away from the game for 2 seasons and the return of TOM COLE having recovered from his leg operation following an injury in a practice game at Waterloo over 18 months ago. Good to see these players back playing.
In the first half, Wirral played up the slope and against the wind. The game started with Wirral conceding two penalties when from a 5m line –out the Sandbach forwards forced the ball over the line to score and was duly converted, 7-0 (6 minutes). On 15 minutes Wirral suffered their first yellow card when JOSH STEAD had sinned, No.1.
On 20 minutes a Sandbach attack was broken up with an interception by DAN HARVEY who set up the attack on to MARK WILLIAMS who made ground towards the line before passing to RHYS JAMES who scored wide out but well converted by MARK WILLIAMS, 7-7 (18 mins). Sandbach soon retook the lead when a centre took the ball at full speed and broke through the Wirral defence to score close to the posts, duly converted, 14-7 (22 minutes). On 27 minutes, HAYDEN LONG was sin binned (no2), 2 minutes later Sandbach scored again when the other centre raced through the Wirral defence to score under the posts, duly converted 21-7 (29 minutes).
On 37 minutes, a break by CHRIS CROWLEY and onto TOM AKEHURST who burst through to score close to the posts, again converted by MARK WILLIAMS, 21-14 (37 minutes). In the last minute of the half, Sandbach converted a penalty to lead 24-14 at half-time.
At half time, MATT DALTON and TOM COLE came on for CHRIS BURROWS (carrying an injury) and WILL MORRIS. In the first incident of the second half, LEWIS HAYES was sin binned (No3).
Playing downhill, Wirral were doing all the attacking and no sooner had LEWIS returned to the field when JOE ADNAMS was now sin binned (no4), thus at the next scrum, DAN CARROL came on for Joe with JOSH STEAD having to stand down to keep Wirral at 14 players- 53 minutes. 4 minutes later, Sandbach suffered their first sin bin. On 59 minutes, Wirral reduced the Sandbach lead to 24-17 with a penalty by MARK WILLIAMS.
Wirral were now using the wind to greater effect and a Sandbach clearance was caught by BEN BROOKS who raced some 30m through the home defence to score under the posts, duly converted by MARK WILLIAMS (65 mins). A further long kick downfield was touched down by Sandbach and a kick out from the try line was caught by BEN BROOKS some 40m out and from there drop footed a superb goal to give Wirral a 24-27 lead-67 minutes. This was followed by another yellow card to Sandbach (No 2). On 70 minutes, a penalty was awarded against Wirral but this was reversed after comments by a home player and yes another yellow card (No.3) against Sandbach. From this position resulted in a line out 5m out, where pressure from Wirral on the Sandbach line eventually led to ADAM DON crossing over to extend the lead to 24-32 (72 minutes), the conversion was missed from the touchline. This try gave Wirral the try bonus point. The pressure was now on Sandbach as they now had to score twice to win.
Another kick out from the Sandbach line was again caught by BEN BROOKS who again caught and dropped kick his second goal to extend the lead to 24-35. This was followed by another Yellow card against Sandbach (No 4). Further pressure on Sandbach resulted in another yellow card against Sandbach, so they took the lead in that avenue (5-4). In the final minutes of the game a further penalty by MARK WILLIAMS was scored which should have made the score 24-38 but the score has been recorded on the records as 24-37!!
The good points to bear in mind are that Wirral were at one stage 21-7 down against a side with more fight to stay in the league but they came back to win the game. This result knocks Sandbach down to the bottom of the league following other results in the league. The next game for them is against Rossendale followed by the last game being at home to fellow relegation contenders, Leek.
Wirral remain 4th in the league and will finish in that position if they win next week’s game against Penrith which kicks off at 3.00pm at the Memorial Ground.
Richard McNeil
Wirral pack only had changes in the back row with JOSH STEAD, CHRIS BURROWS and CHRIS SPEED playing: the backs were as last game. The interest in the subs saw the return of MATT DALTON who has returned to rugby after being away from the game for 2 seasons and the return of TOM COLE having recovered from his leg operation following an injury in a practice game at Waterloo over 18 months ago. Good to see these players back playing.
In the first half, Wirral played up the slope and against the wind. The game started with Wirral conceding two penalties when from a 5m line –out the Sandbach forwards forced the ball over the line to score and was duly converted, 7-0 (6 minutes). On 15 minutes Wirral suffered their first yellow card when JOSH STEAD had sinned, No.1.
On 20 minutes a Sandbach attack was broken up with an interception by DAN HARVEY who set up the attack on to MARK WILLIAMS who made ground towards the line before passing to RHYS JAMES who scored wide out but well converted by MARK WILLIAMS, 7-7 (18 mins). Sandbach soon retook the lead when a centre took the ball at full speed and broke through the Wirral defence to score close to the posts, duly converted, 14-7 (22 minutes). On 27 minutes, HAYDEN LONG was sin binned (no2), 2 minutes later Sandbach scored again when the other centre raced through the Wirral defence to score under the posts, duly converted 21-7 (29 minutes).
On 37 minutes, a break by CHRIS CROWLEY and onto TOM AKEHURST who burst through to score close to the posts, again converted by MARK WILLIAMS, 21-14 (37 minutes). In the last minute of the half, Sandbach converted a penalty to lead 24-14 at half-time.
At half time, MATT DALTON and TOM COLE came on for CHRIS BURROWS (carrying an injury) and WILL MORRIS. In the first incident of the second half, LEWIS HAYES was sin binned (No3).
Playing downhill, Wirral were doing all the attacking and no sooner had LEWIS returned to the field when JOE ADNAMS was now sin binned (no4), thus at the next scrum, DAN CARROL came on for Joe with JOSH STEAD having to stand down to keep Wirral at 14 players- 53 minutes. 4 minutes later, Sandbach suffered their first sin bin. On 59 minutes, Wirral reduced the Sandbach lead to 24-17 with a penalty by MARK WILLIAMS.
Wirral were now using the wind to greater effect and a Sandbach clearance was caught by BEN BROOKS who raced some 30m through the home defence to score under the posts, duly converted by MARK WILLIAMS (65 mins). A further long kick downfield was touched down by Sandbach and a kick out from the try line was caught by BEN BROOKS some 40m out and from there drop footed a superb goal to give Wirral a 24-27 lead-67 minutes. This was followed by another yellow card to Sandbach (No 2). On 70 minutes, a penalty was awarded against Wirral but this was reversed after comments by a home player and yes another yellow card (No.3) against Sandbach. From this position resulted in a line out 5m out, where pressure from Wirral on the Sandbach line eventually led to ADAM DON crossing over to extend the lead to 24-32 (72 minutes), the conversion was missed from the touchline. This try gave Wirral the try bonus point. The pressure was now on Sandbach as they now had to score twice to win.
Another kick out from the Sandbach line was again caught by BEN BROOKS who again caught and dropped kick his second goal to extend the lead to 24-35. This was followed by another Yellow card against Sandbach (No 4). Further pressure on Sandbach resulted in another yellow card against Sandbach, so they took the lead in that avenue (5-4). In the final minutes of the game a further penalty by MARK WILLIAMS was scored which should have made the score 24-38 but the score has been recorded on the records as 24-37!!
The good points to bear in mind are that Wirral were at one stage 21-7 down against a side with more fight to stay in the league but they came back to win the game. This result knocks Sandbach down to the bottom of the league following other results in the league. The next game for them is against Rossendale followed by the last game being at home to fellow relegation contenders, Leek.
Wirral remain 4th in the league and will finish in that position if they win next week’s game against Penrith which kicks off at 3.00pm at the Memorial Ground.
Richard McNeil
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