Match Report: Sandbach 7 - 25 Macclesfield

Macclesfield showed that they were far better at taking their chances as they came away with a bonus point victory, to avenge the defeat at home earlier in the season and regain the local bragging rights.

With the game being rearranged having been postponed just before Christmas and the weekend originally scheduled as a free one, Sandbach were missing half a dozen regulars and though the replacements are all quality players, that lack of familiarity was noticeable in the final outcome. Despite this Sandbach had enough opportunities to get something out of the game, but ultimately made too many errors, particularly at key moments and it ended up being a frustrating afternoon for the home support in a good-sized crowd.

On a crisp but dry day with a chilling North wind blowing towards the clubhouse, Sandbach kicked off down the slope and had the better of the initial exchanges. Macclesfield took an early blow when No. 8 James Oliver had to leave the field having taken a knock to the head when making a tackle, which left him a little dazed and a split lip for his efforts. Sandbach then also suffered a loss, when top point scorer James Preston hobbled off, which saw James Weeks on for his debut and a reshuffling of their back division. This proved crucial in the opening score as the rejigged back field failed to deal with a kick in behind and an unkind bounce landed in the arms of the onrushing Macclesfield midfield and a simple two on one, put Macc’s skipper Harry Oliver over.

With Sandbach still at sixes and sevens Oliver scored three minutes later, as a neat off load out of the tackle created the opening and once more he was in support to streak away for his second. Twenty minutes into the opening half, Sandbach were penalised for handling in the ruck and a kick to the corner and a catch and drive, saw Macclesfield grab their third try as Phil Laing forced his way over. A patched up James Preston then came back on the pitch and suddenly Sandbach had their mojo back. From a counter attack they broke clear and a couple of dummies from No. 8 Ali Burton saw him through to score. Preston converted and Sandbach pretty much dominated the rest of the half. However despite Macclesfield’s Dan Percival receiving a yellow card and several scrums on the Macc line and penalties, Sandbach failed to convert these opportunities and as a result went in at the break 7 v 15 down.

In the second half Sandbach carried on where they left off but still were unable to break down the stubborn visitors’ defence, being held up over the line and on more than one occasion failing to finish off catch and drive opportunities. Opting not to kick at goal and get the scoreboard moving, they still couldn’t quite make the right decisions at the right times and execute them. With just over ten to go the pressure was telling on Macclesfield and hooker Brendan Berry received a yellow in his efforts to keep Sandbach out, but that only galvanised the visitor’s resistance more. As a result Fly half Attis increased their lead with a penalty with eight minutes to go. Sandbach now chasing a losing bonus point and trying to run out from their own line then conceded the final try, with the last play of the game, when they turned the ball over and gave away a penalty. Another kick to the corner drew in the defence and full back Tom Jennings was able to score, with Attis adding the conversion.

So a disappointing day for the Bach who will at least have the opportunity to put the result right, when the two teams meet again in four weeks’ time, when they contest the Cheshire Cup final. Until then it’s a case of analysing the game, looking at decision making in the red zone and refining the small details that can be so critical in scoring. Sandbach will hopefully have a few more regulars back next week when Burnage visit Bradwall Road, but with the South Manchester outfit already relegated, they will be playing for pride, as much as anything.

Pictured - Prop John Whittaker makes a break.