Sunday mornings fixture was played on Sandbach’s 1st team pitch, the weather was brisk with a biting wind blowing from one end of the pitch to the other, the surface was excellent given the recent weather, all set up for a cracking game.
Wirral faced the elements 1st half, kicking to Sandbach to start the game. From the outset Wirral served notice on their bigger opponents moving the ball away from the breakdown and finding pockets of space in the wider channels where their runners would enjoy running at the edges of their opponents and not looking to crash aimlessly into contact. After 6 minutes Wirral were awarded a penalty for hands in the ruck , the ball was kicked into the corner, quick ball off the top saw the ball moved into the middle of the pitch away from the heavier home forwards, a cleanly recycled ball saw Jacob S put into a gap , untouched he glided between the posts , Ben Mc added the extras 0-7 .
Sandbach managed to keep Wirral at bay and on 14 minutes Wirral were adjudged to have held onto the ball at the ruck Infront of their own posts, Sandbach pointed to the posts and added the 3 points 3-7.
Wirral continued to dominate the exchanges and were now playing some expansive intelligent rugby, retaining possession and staying patient looking for mis matches and opportunities. Another attack into the home half saw Ellis put away into the Right corner showing his opposite number a clean pair of heels 3-12. Wirral made rolling subs and quickly put the Bach scrum under pressure taking a feed against the head and working the ball into the middle of the field where Joel A received a flat pass and showed great pace to get outside his opponent and over the try line wide out 3-17.
Sandbach came back at Wirral from the re start capitalising on a dropped ball in the 22 to run in under the posts, a straight forward conversion got Sandbach within 7 pts – 10-17. Wirral managed to regain their composure from the restart dominating the exchanges and reaping their rewards for consistently breaking the Sandbach defence. From an attacking scrum deep in the Sandbach 22 Ben Mc took the ball up to the gain line, dummied to his team mate outside and drifted off the outside shoulder of his opponent to touch down, he duly obliged with adding the extras 10-24.
With the clock ticking down Sandbach could be forgiven for wanting the half time whistle to blow , but to their credit they worked a good position from an attacking lineout 5 mtrs out and managed to muscle their way over the line following a couple of quick pick and go’s ,with a well taken conversion the HT score was 17-24. Wirral maybe slightly miffed that their opponents were within a score.
Wirral started the 2nd half against the elements in determined fashion driving into their opponents “red zone” and it wasn’t long until they infringed to slow the ball down at the break down, Ben Mc opted for the 3 points to keep the scoreboard ticking over 17-27.
Wirral were now in top gear and could smell blood, a well worked move from half way saw play progress into the home 22 , Wirral recycled quick ball where Harry L was on hand to receive a flat pass at pace that was rewarded with a try near the posts , Ben Mc again added the extras 17-34.
With Sandbach beginning to look out of sorts as Wirral were finding answers to all of the home teams’ efforts it wasn’t long before Jacob S found another excellent running line to ghost in, another 2 from Ben Mc 17- 41. As time on the clock ran down it was down to Tom W to complete proceedings with a well taken try, unfortunately Ben Mc from wide out hit the upright, final score 17-46.
A brilliant team performance from Wirral with all squad players being used. Sandbach were a credit to their club, parents and coaches for never giving up and playing the game in excellent spirits. J Kimpton