Sandbach 1st XV 12-75 Rossendale 1st XV – Saturday 10th February – Kick-off 2.15pm  

Northern Division – Regional 1 North West 

Bradwall Road 

The twice postponed fixture between Sandbach and league leaders Rossendale finally went ahead on Saturday.

The Bach made changes after their win last weekend. Archie Lea and Mike Butler, who would be looking to make their debuts, were called up to the match day squad and Alex Bishop and Jack Seddon returned to the starting lineup.

(Photo: Sandbach RUFC)

Rossendale last lost in September and were on a winning run until they drew with second place Macclesfield last weekend. As the team from Lancashire got the afternoon underway, the Bach knew they were going to have a huge challenge ahead of them.

Sandbach did hold their own at the start of the match and it would take Rossendale fourteen minutes to break through and open the scoring. Their hooker went over after a quick tap and go penalty and they would score again minutes later to increase their lead.

(Photo: Sandbach RUFC)

Sandbach were patient after the restart, trying to settle and keep a foot in the game. After Rossendale gave away one penalty too many, the referee had a word with their skipper and a warning was duly given. Sandbach would take advantage and were able to move the ball across the pitch, where winger Elliott Morris found a gap and scored. Rossendale would respond by scoring two more tries and the first half ended 7-28.

Sandbach kicked off and started the second half encouragingly. Morris gathered the kick and there was positive play following this. Tom Namguads was the one to get his hands on the ball as he surged over the line leaving the Bach with a chance to get back into the game.

(Photo: Sandbach RUFC)

The Bach managed to keep Rossendale at bay for the next five minutes but a charge down on a Sandbach clearance would give Rossendale their fifth try. Try number six came immediately from the restart as the Bach's defence broke and Rossendale scored on the wing.

After another Rossendale try, Sandbach were trying to at least get something out of the game. When Rossendale failed to find touch from a penalty, the Bach tried to play the ball out from their own half and produced some entertaining rugby.

Sandbach's Ali Burton, James Finucane and debutant Archie Lea made impressive line breaks. Lea looked like he was enjoying the battle and brought energy to the field.

(Photo: Sandbach RUFC)

Kieran Stubbs made a penalty kick that looked as if it wasn't going to find touch, but a lucky bounce gave Sandbach a lineout five meters out and kept the crowd going. Rossendale won the lineout, but their clearance kick allowed Sandbach to attack again, however a chip through was easily gathered and Rossendale cleared.

Before full time, Rossendale would score another four tries as they didn't let up. Their final try came in the last minute when Sandbach ambitiously tried to play the ball out from their own half again. A lofted kick over the top from the Bach would be gathered by Rossendale's scrum-half, who would score their eleventh try to end the match 12-75.

Sandbach can't dwell on this defeat for too long as they head to Grove Park on Saturday, where they will be hoping to get back to winning ways against Manchester.

Match report by Rhys Fullerton

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