For the fourth match of the season, Wirral made changes to their side with Ollie Atkinson coming in at centre and the back row consisting of Rob Pearl, Harry Broadbent and Ben Marsh. Stu Hughes came out of semi retirement to play on the right wing. Ross Page was injured last week with back muscular problems and will be out of action for the next 2/3 weeks.
Wirral opened brightly and missed taking the lead after 4 mins when a penalty was missed from 45m out, unfortunately, 2 mins later Sandbach took the lead with a penalty scored by Will Cargill from 25m out. Fifteen mins later Cargill increased the lead when a penalty from 40m was converted. In the intervening period, Wirral had made a couple of half breaks using long passes in midfield, which released Ali Baker who made good ground and on one occasion releasing Stu Hughes but the good Sandbach cover was there to halt progress only metres from the line.
On 25 mins, Dan Massey from Sandbach was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and Danny Harvey put Wirral on the score board with a penalty from 38m. Immediately after wards, Ben Marsh was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle. The penalty by Sandbach was missed but continued pressure from Sandbach saw their fly half, ex county player Simon Verbickas (also Sandbach coach) kicking astutely to the corners whilst making good ground.
On the stroke of half time, Wirral equalized with a penalty from 45m by Sam Broadbent. 6-6
The second half started more encouragingly with Ali Baker running from his own half and beating his opposing winger but again the Sandbach cover was in place to halt his run and the pass inside brought the attack to an end. On 12 mins Wirral took the lead with a penalty by Danny Harvey from 25m. Almost immediately Sandbach equalized from 25m out. The Sandbach kicker, Tom Doubleday then attempted a drop kick from just inside Wirral’s half which just went wide and another penalty opportunity from 43 m was missed.
Harry Broadbent was then substituted with Jason Green going into the back row, Jack Quinn coming into the front row and Chris Hughes going to hooker. Craig Dolan came on for Ollie Atkinson.
Twenty seven mins into the half Cargill scored what would be the winning penalty; Wirral were caught offside on 27m from from where the penalty was converted. Jason Green was also yellow carded for this offence. With Jason off, Sam Edgar came on for Chris Hughes. Sandbach had the opportunity to increase their lead but this was again missed.
In the final minutes of the game despite only having 14 men Wirral had their best period of the game with pressure being exerted in the Sandbach half but as Wirral probed and switched play they could not find a way through the resilient Sandbach defence, by now they were camped within sight of the Sandbach line. With the last kick of the game, Wirral had the opportunity to equalize but a penalty from some 38m out just shaved the post. With that the referee blew for time.
On reflection it was the bigger Sandbach pack and their kicking that was the difference between the sides but from this dour game it was the Wirral backs who at least tried to move the ball into the open spaces and it was unfortunate that the wingers were not able to break free to score. A draw I feel would have been a fair result, but Wirral surrendered their unbeaten home league record which had stretched back from 29th March 2008 when we lost 16-9 to Widnes.
It was good to see Tom Clegg at the match after his horrific leg injury in the first match of the season at New Brighton and we all wish him well in his recovery.
Next week the first team is away at West Park St Helens.

Richard McNeil